Ken’s Note: Howard Wolfson is a Hillary diehard who leans very left. This caught my eye because of (1) the notion of a “pre-mortem” analysis (2) I think his analysis is on target. I only hope that reports of McCain’s presidential bid’s dying are premature …
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Excerpted from RCP: “A PreMortem for The McCain Campaign”, Howard Wolfson, 11.10.2008
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The economic crisis dealt the McCain campaign a fatal body blow. None the less, the choices that Senator McCain has made during this race will impact the margin of his defeat and the fortunes of other Republicans on the ballot. Today it’s worth considering what Senator McCain could have done differently.
1) Avoid Faustian Bargains.
John McCain enjoyed a national reputation as a moderate maverick who was willing to challenge the voices of intolerance within his own party and work across the partisan divide. After 9/11 Senator McCain changed course dramatically and yoked his fortunes with President Bush’s. This strategy clearly helped Senator McCain capture his party’s nomination — but it left him poorly positioned to compete in a general election in the current political environment.
2) A Second Act for Sarah Palin.
Sarah Palin’s introduction to the American public was a strong one. She helped to rally the Republican base and drew interest from blue collar voters and some women who might not have otherwise given John McCain a second look. Since then her performance has been poor.
3) A Different VP Choice Entirely.
The choice of a VP speaks volumes to the American public about the candidate making it. What if he had chosen Gov. Tom Ridge, a pro-choice former Governor or former Senator Joe Lieberman instead? Would the choice of Mitt Romney have helped credential Senator McCain on the economy?
4) Distance from George W. Bush.
He allowed Senator Obama and Democrats to define his prospective first term as President Bush’s third. The last thing the American public wants is four more years of the last eight. Senator McCain never made a compelling case that he would do anything differently.
5) Attempt to Define Senator Obama Earlier.
Senator McCain’s efforts to hang Bill Ayers around Senator Obama’s shoulders are totally irrelevent to the current mood of the country and only serve to reinforce how out of touch he is with the real concerns of the American people. They are also much too late to do any good.
6) A Coherent Response to the Economic Crisis.
Senator McCain’s response to the economic crisis — first lauding the economy, then suspending his campaign to pass a bill that failed on its first try, threatening to skip the first debate — was lurching, incoherent, and tone deaf.
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Full article:
http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_flack/archive/2008/10/11/a-premortem-for-mccain.aspx
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