McCain woos Bush loyalists in quest for the presidency

[T_i_B]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/19/wmccain19.xml&sSheet=/portal/2006/02/19/ixportal.html

John McCain, the Republican senator and Vietnam war hero, has taken his undeclared battle for the White House in 2008 deep into what was long enemy territory - the Texan heartlands of President George W Bush.

Mr McCain lost an acrimonious contest for the party's nomination to Mr Bush in 2000. But he is successfully wooing some of the President's political and financial backers, who cast aside their doubts after his unstinting support of his old rival in the 2004 White House campaign.

In a recent visit to the Lone Star state, the former outsider who is now spoken of as the Republican front runner, met Bush loyalists in Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Dallas. Significantly, he has already recruited some of the President's elite Rangers, who raised more than $200,000 (£115,000) for the Bush cause, and Pioneers, those pulling in a minimum $100,000.

But his biggest coup so far - and an indication that Mr Bush himself could be prepared to anoint Mr McCain - has been to sign up Mark McKinnon, the Texan former advertising executive credited with successfully selling the Bush "message" in the past two elections. Mr McKinnon has agreed to put his expertise at Mr McCain's disposal if, as expected, no senior Bush confidantes take up the gauntlet.

[PDittie]

1. The fundies will veto McCain

He has a black child, you know.

George Allen of Virginia. Not too bright, very, very, conservative, is named George. He's their man.

[adriennui]

2. mccain should have fought harder in 2000

he's somewhat irrelevant now...he rolled over and played dead after SC.