March 16, 2008
Posted: 10:38 AM ET
 Can Sen. John McCain win over former Democrats disillusioned with the party?
Can Sen. John McCain win over former Democrats disillusioned with the party?

(CNN) — In the great book of Republican lore, the story lives on, read in reverent tones to tiny Red Staters even in their youngest years:

On the eighth day, Ronald Reagan reached into the suburbs, the burgeoning fields of new homes filled with families yearning for hope, and he picked up an average working-class Democrat.

Cradling him gently in his mighty hand, and speaking in soothing tones, Reagan said to the trembling voter, "I have terrible news. Your party has lost its way. Democratic leaders are no longer the defenders of middle-class jobs, values and security. They are pandering to special interests. Don't you want someone to be your president again?"

Full story 

Filed under: John McCain


ian   March 16th, 2008 3:31 pm ET

He can get any vote, so long as that person is gung-ho on staying in Iraq forever.

Chipster in PA   March 16th, 2008 3:14 pm ET

Yes, Ronald Reagan appealed to a lot of voters who thought he "seemed like such a nice guy." He promised lower taxes but his policies created such huge deficits that he eventually signed the biggest tax increase in U.S. history. He promised to cut spending but increased spending by 23%. He approved amnesty for certain illegal immigrants. Reagan promised to cut government departments but increased the size of them and even added one. Oh, he did make some cuts, catsup was proclaimed a vegetable to reduce the cost of school lunches. John McCain has embraced Bush's economic disaster, preemptive war, and incompetent departmental services. Can we really afford a Bush clone?

Carlos   March 16th, 2008 3:13 pm ET

McCain,
Let's get with the program, Iraq is not WW II or Vietnam. This is a new and modern war, one which we were lied about. It's all going to come out in the end, BUSH and his cronies LIED to the entire country to go to war just to avenge his daddy.

daniels   March 16th, 2008 3:03 pm ET

Obama wiil.God bless Obama

Bubba   March 16th, 2008 3:02 pm ET

Like Howard Cosell, she has an uncanny knack for picking out the completely obvious! And she's a Democratic leader? It is laughable !

Saturday Nothing Live   March 16th, 2008 2:58 pm ET

SNL has shown its true colors last night by painting McCain as an old geezer.

They have a lot of nerve since their show has been dried up for years, only holding on to the shadows of nostalgia.

Give it up SNL, you're irrelevant.

McCain 2008-2016

McYes   March 16th, 2008 2:54 pm ET

This war must continue. We have got to stay in Iraq as long as it takes. The economy will work itself out.

Vote for McCain

Mark   March 16th, 2008 2:54 pm ET

First off, Ronald Reagan was a great president, but he was not God. Second, John McCain is NOT Ronald Reagan. Not even close.

Mirror, Mirror   March 16th, 2008 2:52 pm ET

Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who's the fairest of them all
Hillary and her henchmen

McCain 2008-2012

Oklahoma_Pol   March 16th, 2008 2:46 pm ET

The November election will be fought in the suburbs if Barrack Obama is the demo nominee and in states like Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan. the Clinton campaign prolonging the process to June will allow John McCain to sharpen message, recruit staff and reach out to the reagan coalition.

McCain is presidential in nature, the two demos are engaged in a name calling and race baiting fight which does harm to themselves , their party and the country

Wizard of the White House   March 16th, 2008 2:42 pm ET

Once again Fox has subjected us to the Wizard of the White House, Karl Rove.

Do us a favor and send him to Cuba, where his talents can really be used.

Side Show   March 16th, 2008 2:40 pm ET

Saturday Not Live once again pretends they are neutral. We know differently and would like them to stand up and just shout to the world, that they are for Hillary.

We're not buying it SNL. How much does she pay you?

ANTI CLINTONS   March 16th, 2008 2:19 pm ET

Do two thing right Sen. McCain, get the dem votes and choose Romney as your VP. 4 more yeaers in the whitehouse for the republicans.

RENEA,PLYMOUTH,MI   March 16th, 2008 2:09 pm ET

NO MCCAIN CAN NOT DRAW REAGAN DEMOCRATICS WHEN HE VOTED FOR THE WAR,VOTED AGAINST BANNING WATER BOARDING AND TO GIVE IMMUNITY TO THE TELECOMS IN THE FISA BILL!

Trev   March 16th, 2008 1:57 pm ET

No, but Hillary can.

Hillary 08

Go Obama   March 16th, 2008 1:54 pm ET

I am a diehard Obamacan. If Hillary gets the nomination, then I am switching over to Mccain.

Darryl   March 16th, 2008 1:50 pm ET

This is truly a sad day for America, how the media has made it their mission to distory Senator Obama, if I was Senator Clinton I would keep Slient too let the CNN, ABC, MSNBC and FOX do her work for her.

I fee the major issues we have facing America is Economy, War and Freedom and liberty.

President Bush has placed his policies in front pocket of big business with the Trillon Dollar tax breaks that will have last effect on the economy. Stacking up 10 trillon dollars in debt.

President Bush Started this war as means to raise his buddies oil profits at the cost of United States Soldiers lives and Hillary Clinton and John McCain went along with it.

They Stop counting the true number of soldier that lost their lives it's over 5,000 dead and 35,000 injuried.

President Bush has turn the United States of America in to a POLICE STATE their no more freedom.

We need a major change in Thinking.

aware   March 16th, 2008 1:48 pm ET

John McCain or Hillary Clinton in 08. :)

Barack Obama needs to step down. He seems to have a problem telling the truth. Rev. Wright's "just words" I never heard over 20 years does not ring true! Barack has become intolerably divisive!

John   March 16th, 2008 1:42 pm ET

That’s why we must all vote for Barack Obama. A movement is upon us, and we can all feel him as the second coming of our Messiah. He is the one we have all been waiting for since Jesus Christ. Should we help him fulfill his destiny of becoming our next President, he will bring eternal peace and prosperity to all. So don’t even try to screw this up for us America.

deb in az   March 16th, 2008 1:24 pm ET

i really dont know how john mccain can protect the nation when he cant take care of the state of arizona……….hes to busy living the life and forgets how many people suffered here due to his friend keating………but i guess its ok to let people loose everything as long it doesnt affect you personally……how much more of a recession do we need?

ktlin   March 16th, 2008 1:09 pm ET

McCain did himself in with a lot of Republicans by the way he acted in the years following his loss to Bush. It looked like he was getting back at him. The Republican establishment forced him down the conservatives throat if you will recall. And now Rush and Hannity are not doing anyone any favor by showing they are just like others who are trying the politics of personal destruction since they are behind the Obama preacher firestorm. Why stand up and vote for a party who seems to have lost their way. Unknowingly they have equalled the playing field and all bets are off. For the first time I will most likely be voting for a Democrat and it sure won't be for HIllary. People should remember that for every action is a reaction so you should watch your actions. When you become like the people you are opposing you lose your audience.

obama changed me to a Republican   March 16th, 2008 1:07 pm ET

Go McCain, at least when I vote for you I will be voting for someone who loves America.

Truth   March 16th, 2008 1:02 pm ET

Wow I am the first to write on this!

Anyways, this story does make me want ot vote for McCain. I probably will if my horse don't come in on the democratic side!

MikeyTX   March 16th, 2008 12:38 pm ET

"Ya Gotta Love It!" 'cause it's soooooooo true. (grins)

Harry Trotter   March 16th, 2008 12:38 pm ET

Ronald Reagan's Reaganomics hurt the streets of Los Angeles. He did nothing to help the economy. His quirky rhetoric might've convinced some simple-minded folks but if we want real change, then Ron Paul is our voice. I respect John McCain though.

h
t
Bluthington Heights, Delaware

SWING STATE FAMILY   March 16th, 2008 12:32 pm ET

Hillary is driving the Democrats in McCain's arms …. and the superdelegates are watching it like the cows the slaughterhouse - not knowing what is to come.

Ron Paul supporter from Minnesota   March 16th, 2008 12:30 pm ET

Ron Paul rules the world. If you don't support Ron Paul, then you must be a liberal… with a liberal agenda.

Minnesota for Justice
Harry and Sally Goldstein

Corey, Maryland   March 16th, 2008 12:28 pm ET

Republicans are stupid, thats all I have to say to that…. I love how the republicans hold Ronald Reagan to such a high standard, when he was president only twenty years ago, and didn't even believe in half of the things the present Republican party believes. The way they speak about him, he should have been there with god creating the universe….stupid Christians as well…I thought this country was made of smart people!

Ollie Norf   March 16th, 2008 12:26 pm ET

We need leadership in America. Let John McCain lead us alongside the leadership of Lieberman and Obama.

Olli Norf
Area 52

OBAMA 08   March 16th, 2008 12:26 pm ET

SURE HE CAN, THOSE THAT CAN'T READ. IF A PERSON CAN GOOGLE AND READ GUARANTEED, THEY WON'T VOTE FOR THE MAN WHO DID AND DOES SUPPORT THE 100 YEAR BUSH, MCCAIN , HILLARY , WAR THAT HAS PLUNGED OUR ECONOMY INTO DISASTER. WHAT WAS THE PRICE OF GAS BEFORE IRAQ WAR?

Colon Pow   March 16th, 2008 12:24 pm ET

Is this the kind of government Amerigo Vespucci envisioned for America? Let's return America to its righful owners…The Italians.

Colon Pow
Kung Pao Chicken district
San Francisco

Mud Donna   March 16th, 2008 12:20 pm ET

To bolster his credibility as a young stallion, McCain could hire some scrippers from the clizub. Word like, sun. Wise words spoken from Pre-Mud-Donna.

P. Mud Donna
Bedford Stuyvesant, NY

Joy Butter Fooko   March 16th, 2008 12:17 pm ET

The only way McCain can win over former Democrats disillusioned with the Hillary tactics is to include more of Joe Lieberman. Lieberman is the perceivable face of the Independent voter in this country. McCain could leverage Lieberman's position to court these voters.

Joy Butter Fooko
The Bronx, NY

Floridian   March 16th, 2008 12:15 pm ET

Anyone but Mccain!!!

Melvyn Raab   March 16th, 2008 12:13 pm ET

Here's a galvanizing thought: McCain and Obama… the dream ticket.

Melvyn Raab
Gary, IN

firemedia   March 16th, 2008 12:11 pm ET

Its time poeple. Get rid of the media we have ,because they create the stories and not report them as they should. If they want to controll then run for office and do it that way.
Who appointed the media as protecters of all the comments that we hear? This is a job that you do and only a job so stop trying to be something your not and stop feeding the public this venom that never goes away.
In the end you will sit together with your beers and giggle about the ones you elected when you most likely didn't vote. I'm almost 70 and i'm so ticked off that I will ponder as to wether i will go to vote in this manipulated election you are distroying my freedome with this slanted reporting. By the way, What are your qualifications for what your doing. It was better when you read the paper for election news please print this as some may agree

Sue Doku   March 16th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

Are Suburblicans the new Obamacans?

Sue Doku
Fresno, CA

Chuck E.   March 16th, 2008 12:08 pm ET

Is anybody using hand sanitizer with all that hand-shaking and germ-sharing? What would the CDC have to say and what is McCain't plan to quell pandemics in North America?

Chuck E.
Smyrna, GA

Teddy Ruckspin   March 16th, 2008 12:05 pm ET

Is that Charlie Crisp in the background? He may very well be the VP of President John McCain's campaign. God bless Florida.

Teddy Ruckspin
Pensacola, FL

ojo   March 16th, 2008 12:04 pm ET

This story nailed it. Dems continue to bicker about who will be their nominee (Dems bickering? I'm shocked!). This is a turnoff to independent and swing voters. McCain will methodically pursuade moderates to vote for him. Note to Dems: it doesn't matter who you want representing your party. Pick a nominee who appeals to independents. We represent 25 percent of the voting block. We will decide who our next president will be.

BTW…we dislike Hillary.

Parliamentary Bi-Partisanship, according to Molly   March 16th, 2008 12:03 pm ET

John McCain is a true American hero. A decorated officer of the Armed Forces, a P.O.W. survivor and now a Presidential nominee. He's as American as Apple Pie… and weekend get-aways to Panama.

Dan   March 16th, 2008 11:59 am ET

Nope. He can't summon the "suburblicans" just like he can't be an agent of change or anything else reformist. Why? BECAUSE HE'S A REPUBLICAN! They are incumbent to the White House! The suburb people fed up with Washington are going to be sick of Republicans, because that's whose had the power for 8 long years. They can't be sick of Democrats because George Bush isn't a Democrat. The math is easy. When Reagan showed up, Carter was President. So he could say, "fed up with these guys? Vote for me!" But right now McCain can't say that because he would have to say "fed up with my party? Vote for me!" He is the status quo vote.

RSP   March 16th, 2008 11:58 am ET

Cute biblical references, and if the Democrats keep fighting among themselves, becoming more polarized each day, McCain will capture moderates of both parties, Independents, and older voters, especially those who are suspicious of Obama's relative inexperience and "faith-based" politics

Will O   March 16th, 2008 11:57 am ET

Ron Paul will be the GOP frontrunner because he is still in the race and John McCain is an illegal alien from Panama.

William O'Shanty
Mt. Shasta, California

Spider   March 16th, 2008 11:55 am ET

Barack Obama has run his campaign on his words, judgement and honesty. His words are hollow, no substance. His judgement is questionable with his ties to Rezko and Wright. His honesty will be brought into question after stating that he was never at a Wright sermon that included any racist anti-semite rants. One of these videos will reveal Barack in the congregation, proving him a liar.

A.Davis   March 16th, 2008 11:47 am ET

Obamacans have larger numbers than Suburblicans!!

hkitty   March 16th, 2008 11:47 am ET

Yes, if Hillary does not get the Dem nomination!

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