Posted on 07/26/2007 7:18:03 PM PDT by xzins
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Sen. John McCain's advertising consultants have resigned from his presidential campaign, the latest in a rash of staff shake-ups in recent weeks.
McCain communications director Jill Hazelbaker on Wednesday described the departure of Russ Schriefer and Stuart Stevens as amicable and said the Arizona Republican "appreciates their service" but accepted their resignations when they were offered Monday night.
Schriefer and Stevens were part of George W. Bush's campaign team in 2000 and 2004 and were part of Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign. The Wall Street Journal first reported the departures Wednesday night.
While the two had an agreement to work for the McCain campaign, FEC records indicate that they had not been paid and were not owed any money.
Aides downplayed their departure as a sign of a troubled campaign that has struggled financially and has been hit hard by the senator's support for the unpopular war in Iraq and the failed immigration reforms.
McCain is trying to reassemble his staff and his candidacy after a disastrous six months of weak fundraising and dropping poll numbers.
McCain's campaign manager Terry Nelson and his longtime political adviser John Weaver resigned earlier this month. The campaign reported ending the second quarter of the year with $3.2 million cash on hand and $1.8 million in debts. Several campaign consultants and vendors are owed money.
Hazelbaker, McCain's top spokeswoman, said the campaign would rely on McCain's biography to remind voters why they gave him a 19 percentage point win over Bush in New Hampshire in 2000.
"John McCain's life story has prepared him to lead this country forward on day one," Hazelbaker said. "And any paid media effort will reflect that."
However, McCain has to be able to afford those television ads, an uncertain prospect given oversized spending and lagging fundraising. To help steady his campaign, McCain has scheduled two days in New Hampshire, campaigning in town halls and small venues. He told reporters on Wednesday those settings will help him remind voters why they liked him eight years earlier.
"I think we're doing fine. I'm happy to see the reception I'm getting here in New Hampshire," McCain said. "We're going to be fine over time. Most people aren't focusing on the race yet. Our campaign has had ups and downs, but at the end of the day, we'll be just fine."
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bttt!
again?? lol!
fofl!
ping to #17
Looks like the straight-talk express is driving off the tracks.
Looks like....unless this is the same people....I don’t remember the names from the last article about the dearly departed. : )
Oh, good one (17)! Maybe McCain went broke paying Americans $50/hr to pick lettuce (yeah right).
Maybe he croaked from eating the lettuce that is lettuce pickers crapped on.
How many times has that been in the news about that happening?
One thing is for sure: The mainstream press is the most heart-broken about this. A bad investment for the media elite who's been propping him up and warning us conservatives for many years now that John McCain posed the biggest political threat to traditional GOP politics that we've ever seen.
If undermining his own party from within towards his own victory was his true intent, then he's certainly been a huge success.
His vendors will begin demanding cash up front shortly. That will kill the campaign
One down, two to go!
$75,000 a month!
I wonder what all his donors are thinking about their cash. They probably have so much that they don’t care.
I do not see how McCain can make a comeback. If he does, it will have to be driven entirely by independents and democrats. I don’t think there’s any republican — liberal or conservative — who is not taking his campaign seriously.
And I don’t hear any independents clamoring for McCain.
"This just sucks, I'm so out of here..."
I wish McCain a happy retirement from politics. The sooner the better.
McCain never had a chance if you go by FReepers. McCain built his house in the sand by falling for the adoration of the leftist media. They fed his delusions of adequacy and lead him right up to this point.
McCrazy can only get Dim/indie votes in NH if Hitlery can completely lock up the nomination in advance. Then some of them might cross over to the GOP ballot to make mischief by voting for McCrazy.
Post 33 Correction: who IS taking his campaign seriously.
Sorry
M - C - C - A - I - N.
Obama bin Barama is busy imploding in his own special little sideshow. Chris Dodd? Kucinich? Biden? It’s Hitlery and they all know it. What are the odds that she’ll make it an all female ticket?
In any case, the NH independents and dems will be free to make mischief.
He certainly cannot take in enough cash from small contributors or the rank-and-file Republican base to continue.
It'll be interesting to analyze his latest donation disclosure form when it's available.
Leni
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