As of this writing, John McCain’s hopes for capturing the White House appear dashed. They are nearly as dim as they were back in July 2007, when most political observers left his campaign for dead. McCain is currently trailing Barack Obama by over seven points in the nationwide popular vote (RealClearPolitics average). Even more troubling, he is lagging in the electoral map projections – oscillating between a narrow defeat and a landslide, depending on how you count “leaners” and toss-up states.
However, there are still 22 days to go before the election. In today’s era of multiple daily news cycles and an electorate that in many ways has the attention span of a gnat, 22 days is an eternity. Therefore, there is still plenty of time for McCain to climb back into the race between now and November 4.
McCain can greatly improve his chances by doing the following three things:
1. Kick Obama’s posterior in tomorrow night’s debate. McCain has promised to do exactly that, and he needs to. There are multiple approaches he could take that would be effective. But there can be no more Mr. Nice Guy, no more striving to be “respectful” at the expense of going after Obama on legitimate issues. McCain can ill afford another debate “tie” – real or perceived. He has to “win” in such a way that even the Obama drones at the New York Times and AP must declare him the winner. That will not be an easy task. McCain should start by making sure he is prepared to aggressively rebut Obama’s canned dissembling on his relationships with Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezko, ACORN etc. Of course, this presumes McCain will figure out a way to inject these subjects into the discussion – and he absolutely has to do this, regardless of whether moderator Bob Schieffer brings them up or not. Beyond that, McCain needs to figure out a way to effectively and concisely articulate his economic agenda, because for all its flaws it is a much better alternative to the socialistic plans Obama has in mind (“universal” healthcare, income redistribution, etc). McCain might also close the debate by distributing a copy of this letter to everyone in the audience at Hofstra University.
2. Raise the specter of Obama-Pelosi-Reid. True, some people don’t mind such self-inflicted torture. But historically, Americans have been decidedly averse to giving one party control of both the White House and both houses of Congress. To be sure, McCain himself will not be the most reliable check on Democratic excess from a conservative standpoint. However, if the past is any guide, we can count on Barack Obama to be a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, who will never be mistaken for Blue Dogs. At least McCain represents a chance that the most odious Democratic legislation will die on the White House desk.
3. Focus on the economy. McCain had a golden opportunity to differentiate himself from Barack Obama on the economic bailout plan – and he passed by voting for the dubious bill. But he still has an opportunity to distinguish himself from Barack Obama on at least two key economic issues – taxes and energy. On taxes, McCain sensibly proposes lower taxes across the board as part of the remedy for our ailing economy. Yes, this includes the “wealthy” and corporations – two groups that most Americans depend on for their jobs. On energy, he needs to talk about drilling for oil – without clouding up the message with utopian babble about biofuels, windmills, and the like. Imagine all the real, high-paying, blue-collar jobs that would be created by massive new drilling efforts in AWNR, offshore, and the Rocky Mountains. McCain should explain that it is a false dichotomy to say we must choose between the environment and drilling. Today’s technology makes it possible to drill with minimal disturbance to the environment. An Obama administration (and more specifically, the Obama-Pelosi-Reid trifecta) equates to a near-zero percent chance of increasing the domestic supply of gasoline, which translates to an increased dependency on foreign oil, and even higher gas prices down the road.
Call it Operation Nobama. The time has come.
1) I disagree with you on number one. In the debate McCain must show that he has command of the economic issue. This is what is hurting him and if he spends his time attacking Obama and not presenting a clear picture for the future, he will lose. And he has to stop saying “I know how to…”. People are not buying it. No gimmick economic stunts. Just long term solutions to an economy that at best will putter along for years. And both candidates must take into account the financial reality. Neither one of these guys plans are affordable as they are constructed now.
2) I agree that this is a good point. In 2000 when the Republicans controlled Washington, I knew it wouldn’t be a good thing and it hasn’t been. And this is a case that can be made but I think only the most hardened Republicans will respond to this because most people simply aren’t familiar with Congress leaders that do not represent their states. And you are not adding voters in toss-up states. It’s a great talking point but one that I wouldn’t hand my hat on.
3) Good thought but your execution is off. Drill, baby, Drill is nice and simple and if you get more complicated then that then you run into a lot of other stuff that needs explaining. I actually think alternative energy is a better way. With new alternative energy comes a need for new infastructure and that means jobs in many sectors of the US. People in Ohio do not care if you are creating drilling jobs in Alaska. The offshore drilling ban has been lifted – how long will it be before we see oil from those areas? We can start building wind farms and the structure to get that energy to the grids today.
Overall, it’s not a bad strategy that you put forth but this race is going to come down to jobs, healthcare and retirement savings. John McCain needs an economic plan with guiding principles that go beyond the usual GOP slogans of lower taxes because Bush cut taxes and now we have a trillion dollar bailout, a $500 billion deficit and the average American has not seen their wages rise with the cost of living.
we have been waiting for mccain to man up and do what needs to be done, we have been waiting for him to bring up the issues that the american people want addressed. we have been waiting for him to act tlike this is an office he wants to hold, not just a nice guy job interview. i would really like to see him go after obama on the issues, not play nice guy and say “that one over there”, seriously, i want him hungry for this office, not acting nice.
Of the states that are close It looks like Obama will take CO, PA, OH and possibly Florida. Possibly NC and WV also.
Putting him well into the 300’s electoral possibly 350.
Awesome!
@Real American Patriot:
I see that the fly-by poster has been around for his daily poo slinging.
Hey Sky, during one of your breaks from the Internet dating scene perhaps you could address this post.
Of course I won’t be holding my breath.
Go here http://strata-sphere.com/blog/index.php/archives/6600 and read the posts on the polls. Don’t despair as the MSM polls are most likely wrong for the reasons stated. Don’t despair about McCain and his many shortcomings, either. Many, many Americans are going to vote for Sarah and she will drag McCain across the finish line.
Will believe it when I see it “phony patriot”.
First off on the economy, McCain needs to make a few points: lower energy prices and availability of credit to small business are the two biggest stimuli that can be had, domestic energy production helps not only jobs and balance of payments but revenue to the states as well, and Obama’s tax plan is a disaster and results in more people taking money out of the system through tax credits.
The message he should have been hitting from the day he secured the nomination: this guy’s got so many crooked friends you can’t possibly trust him in the White House.
The message he should have been hammering, relentlessly and with complete focus, for two months: the Dems were responsible for FNMA and FHMLC bringing down the whole mortgage house of cards and if you give the whole government to the Democrats you will NEVER get a straight answer.
The message he should be hammering right now, relentlessly and with complete focus: You want to know what ‘community organizers’ like Obama and ACORN do? They steal votes.
Bush cut taxes in a useful way but he did nothing to contain spending – indeed, his undersized Iraq invasion force meant a long war and an ongoing drain.
McCain needs to emphasize that in letting the drilling ban expire the Dems did nothing to incent the states to permit exploration, and at this point where state revenues are hurting the states need the ongoing stable source of revenue that would come from offshore drilling, shale, etc.
@james manning:
I agree McCain should not get bogged down in “attacking” Obama, to the exclusion of presenting his case on the economy. But he just cannot afford to let the debate slip away without forcing Obama to explain his relationships with Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Fannie/Freddie and I’d say especially ACORN now since that story seems to be gaining some traction in the MSM. If that means the debate gets feisty and even “negative” – good! As I mentioned, another boring debate will be deemed a “tie” which is a big win at this point for Obama. Raising doubts about Obama’s judgment and character is a vital component to a McCain victory, no matter what he says about the economy or any other issue.
As to your second comment, correct me if I am wrong but I don’t think the Republicans had a filibuster-proof (i.e., controlling) majority after 2000, did they? The key difference now is that Democrats might very well have a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, an even larger majority in the House, and the party-line liberal Obama in the White House. If this is what Americans want, fine. But I think there are many likely voters out there who don’t even know that the Democrats have the majority in both Houses right now. McCain should make sure everyone knows this and what the implications are before November 4.
As for energy, there is no good reason why we can’t Drill, Baby, Drill AND pursue alternative energy simultaneously. ANWR drilling might not provide jobs for people in Ohio, but building clean-coal factories, for example, will. McCain could potentially lock up PA, OH, WV, etc with a message like that.
1. Propose to use welfare money to buy franchises for low income areas and then as part of thier paychecks to give shares (with dividends) of these businesses as payback. The communities would end up being true owners of new businesses in their area and the welfare money would be used to create jobs and healthcare (many franchises have health care built into them already) instead of just going into an endless pit. In 2009, that’s $390 billion and if it costs $200 million to start up a major shopping center, and each shopping center provides 1,000 local jobs, that’s a creation of 1.95 million jobs in 2009 alone. In 4 years, that would be 7.8 million new jobs, which would be more jobs than unemployed people.
2. Propose a training and networking system to provide jobs in areas where there are a shortage of workers. The $59.2 billion (2009) Department of Education can be reformed to do this. The U.S. needs more nurses, police officers, prison guards, railroad workers, dock workers, alternative energy engineers ect. That’s another two million or more jobs waiting right there.
3. Turn Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and HUD into rent to own companies instead of handling real estate loans. Rent to own is more economically stable than subprime to everyone involved.
4. Create a $1 trillion over 5 year program to upgrade the U.S. infrastructure which is falling apart and falling behind the rest of the world. Even more jobs would be created. About 20% would go back to the government immediately in the form of taxes on wages.
5. Here is my universal health care plan based on that 47 million number. I’m using a $3,000 zero deductible from Kaiser Permanente. 10 million illegal aliens get health care from the money taken out of foreign aid. The other 38 million could come from the redirection of Medical which would actually cut government costs by $113 billion (2009 budget).
So the balance between plans 4 and 5 is an increase of government by $47 billion. Eliminate the $17 billion in farm subsidies and it’s an increase of $30 billion. The increase of 2 million new jobs (plan 1 and 2) at an average wage of $30,000 with 18% tax would give the federal government $10.8 billion. dropping it down to $19.2 billion. Eliminating the United States Department of Health and Human Services (2009, redundant at this point) would not only finish playing for plan 4, it would reduce the national deficit to the planned deficit for 2009 to $387.8 billion.
Dittman,
I like some of your plan’s points. The problem with your plan is that it leverages common sense, which is unfortunately uncommon! I wish the politicians would focus on the tasks at hand vs. the bribes in hand. I hope the American public wakes up on November 4th and votes based on facts regarding both candidates and what they will really do for the country.
Aye,
You just can’t seem to get your facts straight as usual. you have Obama in PA when he was actually in Ohio. The Clintons were working for Obama in PA.
Reuters/C-Span/Zogby Tracking has Obama at 6+
Gallup 4+
Gallup Expanded 7+
fox new 7+
in the state of Ohio – Obama is RCP average 3.4+
In the state of Pennsylvainia – Obama is RCP average 13.4+
Really?
So you’re trying to tell me that Obama has not been campaigning in PA?
Is that what you’re trying to say?
Let’s check shall we?
Google, Google, Google….
Ah, yes….here it is.
From the Politico, October 12:
You’re right, one of us doesn’t have our “facts straight” but it’s not me.
Tell me though, Sky55110, why would Obama be wasting one minute of time or one minute of Joe Biden’s time or Michelle’s time or one dollar of his money if indeed he was up by 13.4%?
Perhaps he’s smart enough to know that the polls are not what the pollsters have you convinced that they are.
Then you go on to quote more poll numbers.
Blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada.
What’s the MOE on those polls?
What’s the trending look like over the last seven to ten days?
I’ve already asked you. I see that you chose to ignore the questions.
Those are inconvenient facts for you.
I also notice you ignored the remainder of the issues that I raised in the other post and I know you were over there reading otherwise you wouldn’t have known what I said about the PA campaigning.
Guess I was right. You don’t have the stones.
Not surprised.
Tell me, Sky55110, what is it like to come here and beclown yourself on such a regular basis?
What’s that like?
What’s it like to come here and get bludgeoned so badly with the truth that you’re bleeding from the ears when you leave?
You expose your idiocy to the entire cyber-world with each and every post.
Yet you continue.
Amazing, pathetic, and, quite honestly, rather amusing as well.
IMHO:
McCain is in a tough spot, he not only needs to take the gloves off, he needs to pull out some brass knuckles and do it “Chicago style”.
He needs to attack, but he needs to get put his positions on the table first, then go in to have Obama “Reeling from the feeling”. Hopefully he’s ironed out that revamped Economy package he’s been working on because he must work it into this debate now. Not later commercials and rallys. He can hit Obama hard and I agree, he has to say the word “socialist”, He’s already got as much bank as he could out of Ayers being a terrorist this week so Obama will be waiting for it.
Instead he should do a change-up and hit him on education with the Annenburg challenge he and Ayers worked on; how it did nothing to help with “no child left behind” and instead sought to groom children into be community activists and rabble rousers. then follow through with the left jab on Ayers speaking out telling children to go home and kill their parents. Do it short and sweet. Obama will rile over the later and be to rattled to actually answer the questions. McCain has to stick and move, smile while he’s doing it, not show anger.
I think he needs to take a little bit of Palin in there with him, a smile and a wink or two. If Obama tries the “4 more years of Bush” ploy, maybe a “well gosh darn it, there you go again looking at the past” to give a nod to Palin. The crowd would never expect it.
He needs to actually look at Obama when he speaks as he is a serious threat and not ignore him because the media hits him on that every time. When Obama says Senator McCain is right, as he frequently does, McCain should use it, “I agree with the Senator, we both know I’m right”. By all means he needs to name the names on Pelosi, Dodd, Frank, and Reid’s involvement in creating our crises and say it wasn’t Bush wasn’t alone in this mess. The Democrats controlled the Senate and Congress has a share in the guilt, just as high gas prices and inflation that had drained the people’s pocketbooks. Point out that America would already be self-sufficient on her own oil and nuclear power if Democrats in Congress hadn’t blocked every attempt in the last 40 years to expand that infrastructure and less money would have found it’s way into terrorist hands to threaten and attack world-wide.
He should bring up that Obama wants to expand on George Soros’ socialist agenda and point out that Obama’s Universal Healthcare plan is nothing more than a step towards socialized medicine. It didn’t work in Russia, it’s not working in Canada, and it won’t work here.
If Obama brings up Bush and says a McCain-Palin administration would be the same he should say, “He’s your cousin, not mine. You admitted it yourself in June.”
He should point out “Your plan is to implement a national civilian police force the size of our own military under a group called Public Allies, to use the youth of America much the same way the Germans did with the brown shirts, President Bush, and the Clintons also supported that. But I don’t.”
“You ignore the voter fraud and constant illegal activities of Acorn and helped to fund them, which has benefited yourself and your fellow Democrats. In the first rescue bill you tried to give Acorn 20% of the government profit. If I’m president, I will ask my U.S. Attorney General to investigate filing RICO charges against them.”
And ask Obama why he refuses to surrender documents in a pending case that questions if he is even legally qualified to run for the office of president.
From speaking to many of these “Obama-lovers”, I can tell you what you probably already know – that they hate hearing about the connections. Independent voters are just going to see the mention of the horrible connections as mud-slinging or dirty politics. Now, I’m pretty sure that McCain can stump him on his policy positions, and that’s what he needs to do, IMO. He needs to be able to explain to the people the problem and the right solution – his solution, and why Obama’s plans are very dangerous and more likely to make our nation worse off than before. I think that that would show how committed he is to improve our nation and how committed he is to be a true leader with all the right solutions.
And I agree, no one really is buying that “I know” line. Especially when the popular MSM is setting up everything against him, it’s a bad line to use.