July 2nd, 2008
04:22 PM ET
15 years ago
Amid concern, shakeup at McCain campaign
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/07/02/art.schmidt.ap.jpg caption="Schmidt is taking over day-to-day operations in the McCain campaign."](CNN) - John McCain’s campaign announced a shakeup at the top Wednesday, in the wake of growing Republican concern about its ability to compete against Barack Obama.
Campaign Manager Rick Davis said Tuesday morning that senior adviser Steve Schmidt would take over day-to-day operations of the campaign. The Bush campaign veteran will report to Davis, but the rest of the campaign will report to Schmidt, who will be in charge of everything from message and communications, to the political structure and organization to scheduling.
From CNN Politics
- Blinken to visit Israel and West Bank with tensions high after outbreak of violence
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel elected to fourth consecutive term
- Fact check: Biden makes false and misleading claims in economic speech
- Untitled
- The names and places that define America's week of 'tragedy upon tragedy'
not looking good for Obama !!!
McCain to win must frame the issues for individuals, what will Obama policies have on them in concrete terms. He needs to paint him as the liberal he is with specifics not generalities.
He should get Carl Rove. NOT!!!!
...might not be a staff problem...
It's about time that someone stepped up to the plate.
Way to go John, taking on a Bush campaign veteran, that will seperate you from Bush in everyone's mind. More 'Management" layers just what your flip flop campaign needs. November can't come soon enough!!!
It's not going to help, McCain is still going to lose.
No amount of "shake-up" can change the reality. John McCain is a candidate that lacks integrity, vision, or an understanding of the needs of the America in the 21st century. It is not the campaign that is "off-message", it is the candidate! He has demonstated he will lie when needed, change "values" depending on the crowd, and cater to a small wealthy segement of corporate America when in need of money or support. He is a valueless man who wants to keep taxes low for the wealthy and the infrastructure/quality of life for the vast majority of Americans in a state of continuing decay.
THE BUSH CAMPAIGN VETERAN ... SO MUCH FOR BEING DIFFERENT FROM BUSH
Just being a Bush campaign veteran sends shivers through me. If McCain is serious, of course he isn’t, but if he was, he should not have anyone who worked for Bush anywhere near his campaign. I’m thinking Karl Rove mush still runs the show.
Not sure that a changing the driver of the bus will get it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
McCain is using the wrong directions to get to the destination.
I wonder how many more "shakeups" will take place during McCain's bid to be president. To be the "experienced" candidate he seems to be less skilled at selecting his advisors.
Although I have planned on voting for Obama since I first visited his website six months ago, I've been apalled at the lies, misinformation and negativeness coming from the McCain camp in the last week or so. If McCain keeps up the viciousness of his recent campaign, I think he may initially gain some support, but eventually lose even more. People will stop trusting his word. I don't think there is anything McCain can do to win the election, but I hate to see him destroy his creditability.
Rep should change McCain ASAP.
At least McCain still kept the swift boat vet he hired to defend his war record, and his top adviser who roots for terrorist attacks on US soil.
McCain has no clear decisive direction for this country at a time when we are screaming for change. All I am hearing is more of the same........maybe with a slightly different vocabulary, but still the same.
This LIFELONG Republican cannot believe that McCain is the nominee at a time when we so desperately need energy, vitality and a total overhaul of how the world views us.
I never thought I would say this, but Obama '08!
McCain needs all the help he can get. He is a looser from the word go.
I think they need to replace John McCain too.
And you want this man to RUN the country? He can't run a campaign effectively.
Why hasn't Obama yet agreed to a debate with McCain?
Is it because in 2004 there were no debates until after the respective party conventions, with the first presidential debate being held in September?
Is it because both nominees are still the "presumptive" nominees of their respective parties?
Actually, that's probably it. In fact (and I know this will break the heart of McCain supporters just looking for something, anything, on which to attack Obama) the last two presidential elections only had 4 debates each. There were 3 presidential debates and 1 vice presidential debate. In 2000, the first debate was on October 3rd, and they were all wrapped up by October 17th. In 2004, the first debate was on September 30th. In 1996, there were only 2 debates, both in October.
In fact, in the entire history of televised presidential debates (going back to Kennedy versus Nixon in 1960), there has never been a presidential debate earlier then September 23rd.
So why do so many screeching strident McCain supporters want to have debates earlier? Why do they want to fill the months between now and november with an endless series of monotonous debates? Oh, that's right, it's because McCain has no money and needs the free publicity and the free airtime.
Aw, too bad.
I do not think a change in McCain's staff will do much good. McCain is a "lost cause". He is just a hotheaded, saracastic old prissy and whenever I see him on TV I just switch channels. God help our country if he ever gets in the White House. Also, I like Michele Obama but McCain's wife's eyes (the mirror of our souls) tells it all. I would never want anything to do with her.
LOL... better late than NEVER!!!!...
Why is Black still in? ... and he wants Obama to remove Clark? hip-o-krit!
right I am sure the campaign announced a shake-up because they are concerned about about it's ability to compete against BHO.
Yeah, no spin on the stories here. The person who wrote this story head is probably still spinning from attempting to make this normal growth of a campaign sound negative to make people read their story.
Hey – news flash – real journalist don't need to spin the story to get readers
shake shake shake, shake shake shake, shake your boody!
By the end of the run McCain will be known as Shakin' Stevens!
LOL!
It's not a shake up that'll increase his ability to compete against Barack Obama. Nothing will. Its not about who's running the campaign. It's about who's running!
Bets are on, that there'll be another McCain Shakin' before November.