If McCain is the Repub national nominee...

[bidenista]

...what kind of GE campaigns will we be looking at? I have to say that of all the current GOP candidates, he seems the toughest to go up against. Lots of (inexplicable!) independent support, and not popularly identified with Bu$h's legacy. Age will be a factor, but he does have a good military record - and we won't use it against him like the Rethugs did with Kerry.

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[gateley]

1. "If McCain is the Repub national nominee..."

We'll be wishing that Biden was the Dem national nominee.

[bidenista]

2. I'm already doing that ;)

[gateley]

4. Hey!

Hi! :hi:

[milkyway]

3. McCain: “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.

I’ve got Greenspan’s book.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/opinion/14krugman.htm...

Contrary to popular opinion, I think the Dems will pound McCain in November if he's the nominee. The economy is headed for the shithole and it will easily be the number one issue. McCain will have nothing to offer other than the standard repug boilerplate. He's identified with several issues (campaign finance, ethics reform, torture, Iraq), but not with economic issues.

McCain was fortunate to have a perfect storm last week, with the New Hampshire primary coming at the same time the corporate media had reported that the so-called "surge" is apparently working. It's unlikely this will still be the case in November.

McCain has two basic constituencies: New Hampshire independents and corporate media types (amongst repug voters, he lost New Hampshire to Romney). Romney seems to be the repug candidate best able to sell himself to repug voters as the solution to hard economic times. McCain has nothing to run on, and the above quote admitting to his ignorance of economics is an indication of his coming downfall.

[ginchinchili]

13. Are you suggesting that Obama is identified with economic issues?

Maybe with his supporters, busily engaged in suspension of disbelief. In the country as a whole, Obama isn't particularly identified with anything. Since he has so little experience, he'll have to try and convince the rest of America the same why he's convinced his supporters, through clever rhetoric...and the Republicans will be more than happy to fill in the blanks.

I actually like Obama, but his poor judgment that led him to run so soon after Illinois elected him to the Senate tells me that he's not ready to be president. He should have waited. He's simply not ready, and all the hope in the world isn't going to change that fact.

[krkaufman]

15. How did this become about Obama? I thought the thread was discussing McCain.

[HughMoran]

17. ALL posts on DU are about Obama

Get with the program, will ya!

[krkaufman]

20. chuckle.

[Endangered Specie]

5. not identified with Bush did you say?

If I were the democratic strategist, I'd air ads that are nothing more than sideshows of these images:





http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/bushbeat/mccain-bush-20050321,399-thumb.jpg

[Muttocracy]

6. yuck. But I think those photos will help him with

hesitant Republicans more than they hurt him with people who are going to vote Dem anyway?

[Poiuyt]

7. Eeewww. Yellow teeth

[bidenista]

8. aaaaaargh

That hug photo is too much. I need to bleach and scour my eyes.

Maybe it's just me, but I think a lot of people do still think of the Bush/McCain relationship in terms of the 2000 campaign and the "black baby" stuff. I've never been convinced that McCain views the chimp with anything other than contempt.

[bbinacan]

9. This is what may help McCain

if used in an ad.

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/soapbox/mccain.asp

[WheelWalker]

25. In these photos, McCane reminds me of Lou Costello. nt

[EFerrari]

10. MCcain does well at a desk in chambers and on the talk shows.

But, not so well behind the podium. He doesn't project himself very well, he misses.

We can take him, no matter which of our candidates wins the nomination.

[krkaufman]

16. We can only hope that his speeches are like that NH "victory" speech. Ouch! n/t

[PatSeg]

11. Age is the first thing that pops into my head whenever I see him

on TV. Unlike Reagan, McCain actually looks his age and I can't picture him lasting four years, let along eight. Then I remember him pandering to Bush and to the religious right. He is the best choice the republicans have and he's not a very good choice.

[roamer65]

12. Last one of the Keating Five.

He will also be the last president of the "former" USA.

[Hoof Hearted]

14. McCain is despised by the cold heart of the republican party. We will win.

We could run a bucket of snails against McCain and do just fine.

Plus, he's tired and getting more so with every passing week. He's going to look like total hell well before convention. Even now he looks and sounds old, frail, and sickly. Both Clinton and Obama have power and energy. The difference will be impossible to ignore. Ray-gun was old when he came to office but he still had the cowboy, chopping wood shtick and a firm and powerful voice (and a case of shoe polish) to fool people into thinking he was "virile". Poor old McCain has none of that.

[natrat]

19. you guys are crazy mcain will end up dusting either of these jokers. Note this poll :

http://firedoglake.com/2008/01/14/the-polls-you-wont-hear-much-about/

[Tennessee Gal]

27. Hey, don't confuse them with facts!

I think anyone is crazy to think that beating McCain will be easy. IMO he is the best of the Republican field.

[Eurobabe]

21. Be careful, my friend

America is basically stupid when it comes to electing Presidents. They don't even know why they are voting for a certain candidate. Most of them don't even think before they x the spot, pull the lever or ???

If it is Hillary vs. McLame, we will have another 4-8 years of Repube administration.

But I am still hoping for a miracle.

[Hoof Hearted]

22. When I am proven right, you owe me a Vitamin Water.

:-)

It's going to be fine. More than that. It's going to be FUN.

[Eurobabe]

24. You gotta deal. And I hope you are right!

I don't want another round of CONS in the White House!! :puke:

[jillan]

18. Welcome to DU Bidenista!

The thing about McCain, he is probably the best they have.....and that doesn't say much!

[Kucinich4America]

23. Obama just might be the best one against McCain.

McCain is 72 and has had a number of health issues. Obama is the youngest candidate in the race. Edwards is young enough, and looks it, but the 'Pukes might make Elizabeth's health an issue, if McCain's is brought up.

Purely a political strategy thought there. My order of preference for the candidates hasn't changed. But then I'm not convinced the Repuke establishment is going to let McCain win either.

[Tennessee Gal]

26. What the hell does Elizabeth's health have to do with it?