NEWSWEEK: Bush's Top Campaign Staff Defecting to GOP 2008 Hopefuls

[norml]

Many Bushies Joining John McCain: 'Probably Our Conscience Bothers Us a
Little That We Didn't Support Him Before,' Says One

NEW YORK, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- As President Bush tours the country to
promote the agenda he laid out in last week's State of the Union Address, key
members of his campaign team are being poached by wanna-be candidates of 2008,
reports Senior White House Correspondent Richard Wolffe in this week's
Newsweek. "This is the first time in a long time where a lot of those people
who have been out there for the president are free agents," says one important
member of Bush's team. "This is the courtship period, and some are courting
aggressively."

There are already four could-be candidates well into the wooing phase,
according to several of the president's loyalists: Sens. Bill Frist of
Tennessee, George Allen of Virginia and John McCain of Arizona, and
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. McCain, who lost the GOP presidential
nomination to Bush in 2000, has signed up several of Bush's elite fund-
raisers, reports Wolffe in the February 13 issue (on newsstands Monday,
February 6). The biggest catch is Tom Loeffler, a former congressman from San
Antonio, who is a Bush-family loyalist and helped build Bush's money machine
in 2000. Kent Hance, a former congressman from west Texas, has also climbed
aboard the McCain bandwagon. "Number one, he's the best person for the
position," Hance said. "Number two, probably our conscience bothers us a
little that we didn't support him before." Another prize pickup: Ron Weiser,
who was Bush's finance chairman in Michigan in 2000.

And Mark McKinnon, Bush's advertising guru, says he has told the president
that he wants to work with McCain-so long as Bush's closest allies, like his
brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and Secretary of State Condi Rice, stay out of
the race. "I'd rather lose with McCain than win with somebody else," says
McKinnon, who remains close to the Bush White House.


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http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-05-2006/0004274830&EDATE=

[Virginia Dare]

1. Okay, so this is McCain's $2

for being W's whore.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. Normal for the last half of a lame duck tenure.

These guys have to find the next wagon to jump on. Bush ain't going to be feeding them much longer.

[norml]

12. That's why I didn't think it LBN worthy.

So I put it in here.

[meegbear]

3. Bush's Top Campaign Staff "Defecting"?

Since he can't be president for another term, I wouldn't exactly call it that.

[blm]

4. So, in effect, they're saying they know they lie for Bush and now will lie

for McCain.

[ClintonTyree]

5. Most of them will be in prison, won't they?

Can they run an effective campaign from prison? Hey, you gotta' have hope! ;)

[ewagner]

6. Oh-oh....

That's a lot of talent going into McCain's camp....especially in $$$$ department...

$$$$$ can coverup a lot of flaws....

hope our side is onto it too....

[leftstreet]

7. Strategy? No, I don't recall ever meeting George Bush

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. I love you man...... what a sad sad photo, honest to universe.... nt.

[Donna Zen]

9. The deal with McKinnon

That was made during the spring of 04 with bush's blessing. And then came the kiss, as John McCain sold out our troops and our country.

[msongs]

10. dems should run all the pics of mccain kissing bush and toadying

the prez, sucking up, bootlicking, brown nosing, whatever else you wanna call it.

Msongs
www.msongs.cm/political-shirts.htm

[guidod]

11. This happens to every second term

President. Bushdick has lost his sheep and is finally totally worthless.