McCain pushes tough guy image

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/27/mccain.message/index.html

The second part of the Republican's strategy, as laid out in a memo to reporters (like tough guys always do) from adviser Steve Schmidt, is to recall McCain's time as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War to show his toughness and willingness to put his country first.

"When John McCain was offered early release as a prisoner of war, he refused, subjecting himself to torture rather than give a propaganda victory to his captors," Schmidt wrote.


Another example of McCain's toughness, Schmidt said, occurred when he bucked his party to work with Democrats on immigration reform.

Linking McCain's POW experience to his work with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, on an immigration bill may seem like a stretch, but the point is that McCain's camp is casting its guy as someone who takes on tough fights.

"They're defining him as a fierce patriot who strongly loves his country and will do anything to sacrifice himself, anything for the better of the country," said Republican strategist John Feehery, "and I think it's actually a nice contrast to Barack Obama, who is kind of a Johnny-come-lately."

At a news conference Wednesday, Obama defined his approach to politics as "Midwestern in some ways, which is important and will represent a significant change from the very ideological, very sharp partisanship that we've seen in Washington."

Obama allies also point out that Sen. Hillary Clinton used some of the McCain strategy in the Democratic primaries -- particularly the part about being a tested leader -- and failed to prevent her rival from becoming the party's standard bearer. (in other words DC still thinks this can work on Obama)

sorry, my mistake.

Go ahead, Mcsame--go there, please.

A fake one, but nevertheless, who wants another guy who may have been tough 30 years ago.