McCain's chief media strategist steps down: “I just don’t want to work against an Obama candidacy.”

Keeping Vow on Obama, McCain Adviser Resigns

By JIM RUTENBERG
Published: May 21, 2008


WASHINGTON — Senator John McCain’s chief advertising strategist, Mark McKinnon, announced Tuesday that he was resigning, following through on a vow he had made months ago not to work against the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama.

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In telling the Cox News Service last June that he would not work against an Obama candidacy, Mr. McKinnon had said that Mr. Obama’s election to the presidency “would send a great message to the country and the world.” In that interview, Mr. McKinnon had said that he had policy differences with Mr. Obama, especially on Iraq, and that he believed Mr. McCain was best suited for the presidency because of his national security positions. But, he added, “I just don’t want to work against an Obama candidacy.”

/snip

Mr. McKinnon had told friends, and some journalists, that he did not want to be part of a hard-fought campaign against such a historic candidacy. In his interview with Cox, he had said of Mr. Obama: “I think he has a deep character and good judgment. I also think he’s wrong on some fundamental issues. But I believe he is honest and independent.”

Mr. McKinnon had made those comments as Mr. McCain’s campaign was entering a rough patch that by midsummer left his prospects in doubt. With a general election battle between Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain increasingly likely, speculation over whether Mr. McKinnon would follow through on his pledge had been recently circulating in both parties.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/us/politics/21consult.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin


Mark McKinnon, left, with Senator John McCain at a news conference in February.

that's for sure.

A very brave, conscientious move on Mr. McKinnon's part.

As imposing as the Hillary dead-enders want to sound like their voting block is, it is dwarfed by the disillusioned Republicans.

It's a beautiful thing.

They are being nice because they wanted run against her..not just because they think they can beat her but they really really do not like her...I know my republican family members don't.

I think we know that it will be the subtext of the GOP message this fall, just couched in phrases that are able to be broadcast on TV news.

Not to spur Mr McKinnon's kind words, but I don't think of Obama as being all that different a candidate.

Democrats tend to nominate younger candidates than Republicans. Adlai Stevenson was 52 when he was first nominated. Kennedy was 43, Carter was 52, Clinton 46, Gore 52. Kerry at 60 was an exception, but still younger than all but one of this year's Republican choices.

Democrats tend to nominate senators. Electing outsiders is also part of a long Democratic tradition, running all the way back to Andrew Jackson (another one term senator whose election was considered groundbreaking, but in retrospect seems kind of inevitable).

In more substantive terms, he's known for being smart & appealing to a more discerning electorate. In recent memory, only Dole & McCain among Republican nominees haven't had reputations for being a little weak on gray matter, while I can't think of any Democratic nominees who got pegged with being dense. He's campaigning on "hope" and "changing the way business is done in Washington." This might seem bland enough, but this is consistant only among Democrats--Carter and Clinton got elected on precisely the same themes ("The Man from Hope" ring a bell?)

I guess there's that whole race thing. But honestly, all discussions of race are starting to bore the snot out of me.

and the whole world will feel it. Is the United States a country where truly anyone can grow up to become President?