April 1, 2008
Posted: April 1st, 2008 02:55 PM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Veteran Republican operative Charles Black stepped down from his job as chairman of a high-profile Washington lobbying and consulting firm, effective Tuesday, to move full time to the McCain presidential campaign, GOP sources tell CNN.

Black is a senior McCain adviser and one of his top campaign confidantes. He also is one of several top McCain advisers whose work at lobbying firms has been cited by McCain critics in challenging the senator’s credentials or commitment to lobbying and other political reforms.

Black, a veteran of the Reagan and George H.W. Bush political operations, was until Tuesday the chairman of BKSH & Associates. But the firm says he is now at the campaign full time, and referred all inquiries to the McCain headquarters. Black did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment, but two GOP sources, one of them a McCain campaign official, told CNN of the move and said it had been in the works since it became clear McCain would be the Republican presidential nominee.

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis is a former lobbyist who left his firm last year to work at the campaign full time.

–CNN's John King and Mark Preston

Filed under: John McCain


Al, Sacramento Ca   April 1st, 2008 4:43 pm ET

McCain= more borrowed money more borrowed time.

Al, Sacramento Ca   April 1st, 2008 4:41 pm ET

McCain- ready to serve Bush's third term!!!

Tell the truth   April 1st, 2008 4:41 pm ET

Beware aware Hillary Supports and Obama.

Do not vote for McCain just out of anger. Do you want another 4 years of Bush. Think about your children.

Please vote Obama or Hilliary.

Grif   April 1st, 2008 4:31 pm ET

Build. Build. Build... John.. Surround yourself with Experience...

Mike G   April 1st, 2008 4:27 pm ET

from war hero to sell-out; if he killed Christ would the right-wing media forgive him?

Tim   April 1st, 2008 4:22 pm ET

McLame = fraud. He claims to be about reform and open government but the truth sets him free. Hes too long in Washington and needs to be sent home.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   April 1st, 2008 4:21 pm ET

Ronald, for you information McCain is a senator in Washington because he was one of Keating Five that bankrupted the S&L and got off with a promise to do good while Keating and his young son went to prison. I felt sorry for Keating's wife because they were financially destroyed and Cindy and John McCain profited.

kim portland, oregon   April 1st, 2008 4:14 pm ET

i definitely see a BIG blow-up in the future of mccain's campaign. i hope it's enough to sink him once and for all.

VOTER FOR TRUTH AND DIGNITY IN AMERICA   April 1st, 2008 4:13 pm ET

McCain? Lobbist? No connection? Oh, Ok. Now let us all ask
ourselves this big important question????? Has the Bush
"REGIME" ruined our country yet? Can it be repaired? Is it
"repairable"? By anyone? I know this is a sad question, but
some of you voted for Bush instead of Kerry. And the smear
ads and the religions told YOU how to vote!!!!!!!!!No mind of your own?? Are you going to blow it again?

Obama or No One Please not Hillary or McCain. Please!!!!

Todd, Kenosha, WI   April 1st, 2008 4:10 pm ET

McCAN'T 0NEVER

Doug R.   April 1st, 2008 4:00 pm ET

McCain is a fraud and a liar. He has all sorts of skeletons stuffed into his closet. Let's open it up and put it all on the table and watch him lose his temper.

dear working man   April 1st, 2008 3:47 pm ET

We don't have to worry about this because he is not going to win in November anyway. He is to hot headed and does not carry the base of his party much the same way Obama does not carry the wal mart democrats but in November wal mart or otherwise the democrats will fight hard to take this country back

kathleen   April 1st, 2008 3:44 pm ET

The truth be told. McCain loves lobbyist money.I have a feeling
that won't be the last time McCain wants to crawl in a hole.

OBAMA or no one 2008

bjyellen   April 1st, 2008 3:44 pm ET

Chelsea is not running for anything. Nor did she commit an indiscretion. She is free to decline to answer any question, personal or otherwise.

The question seems off limits for Hillary and Bill,as it does not come up in their press events.

Stephen   April 1st, 2008 3:37 pm ET

Just how "Maverick" is McCain if all his cronies are fat cat Washington grease balls? Seems like the old tried and true drum beat of Republican co-mutual back scratching for special interest and inside dubiousness.

What Really Happend   April 1st, 2008 3:37 pm ET

Look at this prospective time line

1) He leaves the firm now to help McSame to get elected

2) McSame gets elected

3) Charles Black returns back to Lobbying Firm

4) President McSame sends billions of govenment aid his way

People please don't be fooled.

Obama 08

Bryant   April 1st, 2008 3:35 pm ET

When I read stuff like this, it just reinforces the notion that our nation is in great need of the type of change that McSame and his cowarts just can't provide!

Obama 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!

kim portland, oregon   April 1st, 2008 3:33 pm ET

one lobbyist down, 186 to go, mccain!

Dave -Las Vegas   April 1st, 2008 3:31 pm ET

You traitor!

jeremy   April 1st, 2008 3:27 pm ET

the maverick is officially a follower now.

the straight talk express is just another extension of Bush policies.

Democrats must stay united to save our country from another 4 years of horrible economics, wars and blatant disregards to our constitution.

OBAMA 2008

sozzi   April 1st, 2008 3:27 pm ET

After the fact. Once a lobbyist always a lobbyist.

Tex'un   April 1st, 2008 3:25 pm ET

You can bet that the firm has saved a place for him, in the event he needs to return. The separation is for public consumption!

Get Real   April 1st, 2008 3:25 pm ET

McCain's converts....LOL.

Anyone but a Republican   April 1st, 2008 3:24 pm ET

Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfovitz, Rice, Rove & now Black. Republicans have a way of recycling their old and we keep on buying it an voting them back in.

Bob Stephens   April 1st, 2008 3:23 pm ET

The double talk express has been caught again

Mary   April 1st, 2008 3:23 pm ET

Just an other lobbyst as usual.. no surprise..

Lourdes   April 1st, 2008 3:21 pm ET

I hope all of the "Clintonians" who are threatening to vote McCain if Obama gets the Democratic nomination are willing to be responsible for another term of cronyism and corruption, but also for the deaths of so many more American soldiers and innocent iraqis that will result from the continuation of this unwinnable war. And for all the people who will continue to die in our country from lack of health care.

PLEASE people, don't vote for another Bush term out of spite.

@americans   April 1st, 2008 3:19 pm ET

McBush = lobbyist!

Ronald   April 1st, 2008 3:15 pm ET

Oh no. Is this a repeat of the Keating Five stuff again?

Chris from San Antonio   April 1st, 2008 3:14 pm ET

Wow, a lobbyist moving full-time as a McCain advisor. I would have never ever guessed in a million, kajillion years that senior lobbyists would be tied so tightly to the GOP campaign.

David   April 1st, 2008 3:13 pm ET

Anyone surprised? I mean, this so called Maverick-Reformer is surrounded by lobbyists. What a fraud.

Conservative   April 1st, 2008 3:08 pm ET

McCain has plenty of the lobbyist money in his campaign. Most of the lobbyist are working hard NOT to change how our Government works. The same sharks have surrounded and jumped on the McCain camp, they want their free meals to continue.

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

twitter
@PrestonCNN: RT: MMStewart Just posted: Top Dem explains slavery remark, doesn't apologize http://bit.ly/6KEGM3
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:27:32 -0800
hambypCNN: Steele and Kaine square off on health care, jobs, and Steele talks (a little bit) about his new book ... http://bit.ly/6kbvKz
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:37:59 -0800
@HornickCNN: White House to government: Continue to open up: http://bit.ly/6SC11i
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:07:15 -0800
hambypCNN: Michael Steele has a book coming out in Jan. Asked about it on CNN, Steele demurs: "Ya, that's what I'm hearing somewhere down the line."
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:52:08 -0800
hambypCNN: @DanDoranBlum nice. hopefully you get two big wins over Pitt in one week.
Updated: Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:42:32 -0800
Categories
Powered by WordPress.com VIP