McCain Embraces Bush Methodology

.

As reported by the New York Times today, the McCain camp has had its second major shake-up in less than a year. Campaign Manager Rick Davis has been demoted and replaced by Bush campaign veteran Steve Schmidt, who worked closely with Karl Rove in 2004. Schmidt will now be in charge of daily operations, including political strategy. But that's not all.

Also reported by the Times:

"Nicolle Wallace, who was communications director for Mr. Bush in the 2004 campaign and in his White House, has joined the campaign as a senior adviser, and will travel with Mr. McCain every other week. Greg Jenkins, another veteran of Mr. Rove’s operation, has joined the McCain communications operation."

"Mr. Jenkins is a former Fox News producer and a director of Mr. Bush’s presidential advance team that set up political events."

For someone who repeatedly denies his similarities to a certain commander and chief, these changes certainly are telling. I find them disturbing.

The Rovian strategy that Bush relied on has always been about scaring people into voting against their best interests. It worked so well in 2004 that candidate John Kerry, a distinguished Vietnam war hero, was diminished to the status of flip-flopper while Bush, who merely served stateside during that same conflict, was perceived as the stronger security candidate by the majority of voters.

The same strategy failed to connect in 2006. That year, voters were more scared of Republican mismanagement than they were of threats from abroad, and the Democratic party took back control of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

So, will Rovian scare tactics work in 2008? A late assist from the White House might help. I have a sneaking suspicion that a major foreign policy event will occur just before the 2008 November election, Security Level Orange, or worse. Just wait and see.

And if you think that's cynical, think back to what this administration has done over the past eight years. At this point, nothing will surprise me.

.

Comments

[Mike]

I just can't see McCain getting elected with Bush's spectre staring at him. There's no way he can run from the comparisons, not this year. President Obama will be a welcome change for this country.

[Rick]

McSame would give us 4 more years of failed Repug policy. I hope his new campaign manager turns out to be as bad as his last one. Either way, Americans will not be tricked into voting that way this time around. We need a fresh face in the white house!

OBAMA 2008