Posted on 11/28/2005 10:15:28 AM PST by areafiftyone
Senator McCain of Arizona is emerging as an early favorite for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 as a result of a shift in the issues dominating the American political landscape, according to political analysts.
Intensifying public concern about the war in Iraq, the prospect of protracted corruption trials in Washington, and renewed qualms among Republicans about federal spending are all putting wind into Mr. McCain's sails while setting back most of the senator's rivals for the nomination.
"If Iraq and foreign policy and national security and deficit spending are important issues, that will benefit people like McCain," the publisher of a leading political newsletter, Stuart Rothenberg, said.
A Republican political consultant with national campaign experience said looming decisions about when and how to withdraw American troops from Iraq should boost the prospects of Mr. McCain, a former Navy pilot who spent more than five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. The senator has vocally opposed calls for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, but he has also clashed with the White House over a measure he sponsored to prohibit Americans from engaging in torture.
A former aide to the senator, Marshall Wittmann, also said he believes the stars are aligning for a McCain candidacy.
"My sense is there's a significant amount of momentum shifting to Mc-Cain within the Republican Party over the past few months," said Mr. Wittmann, who served as the senator's communications director for two years before quitting last year to join the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
McCain may be the media darling but he is also the American poll darling. He wins hands down WITH Giuliani as the front runner. Things may change by 2007 but right now this is the way it stands.
If McCain is the GOP nominee, the NRA should field its own third party candidate.
I'll be right there with you.
At least McCain refused to join the 79 senators who voted to have the WH provide status reports on the war. I am an Allen supporter, but I was deeply disappointed that he joined the majority rather the courageous minority.
Uh huh, sure.
I don't think McCain won any states in 2000 where the primary was restricted to the actual members of the party in question. He would have the same problem in 2008, only more so--he might win some primaries with the help of Democrats and Independents, but would have no chance in the closed-primary states.
Agreed. When will the party end this "open primary" nonsense?
Fred is an ok guy.
-"My sense is there's a significant amount of momentum shifting to Mc-Cain within the Republican Party over the past few months," said Mr. Wittmann, who served as the senator's communications director for two years before quitting last year to join the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.-
No bias there!
"Some people seem to be willing to have Hillary in office just to prove an ideological point. "
and that my friend is quite scary
I agree with your assesment completely
Change in landscape favoring McCain!--as in the dark side of the moon? a deep crater on mars? Laughable promotion of the MSM darling is all this is.
He ain't going to get my vote in the primary.
But then again, NC is so far down the primary list that it doesn't matter much.
Perot had a major impact on the election, including setting the agenda and making Bush the odd man out in the debates. Both Clinton and Perot were running against Bush, Bush lost states like Montana, Nevada, Maine, and NH by less than 10,000 votes and Perot took over 20% in all these states.
Bush lost narrowly in some larger states, e.g., Georgia (13,000 votes with Perot winning over 300,000 votes), Pennsylvania ( 48,000 votes with Perot winning over 900,000 votes), and Ohio (90,000 votes with Perot winning over 1,000,000 votes.) If Perot had not run, Clinton would probably have lost. Although Perot many have attracted many new voters, one could make a reasonable case that more Perot voters were Reps than Dems.
I think I'd vote for just about anyone other than the "Whore of Babylon". '08 sure is gonna suck...
If I want to vote for someone who helps Democrats, I vote 'Rat. Either we nominate a Republican, or millions of Conservatives will look elsewhere for a candidate (or none at all).
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