John McCain: American Hero.

[cali]

That is going to be the motif of his campaign, no doubt about it. In the last few days, I've heard Guiliani, Ahnold, and other supporters/surrogates refer to him that way.

It won't work. It's a dumb thing to stress.

It won't work because Americans aren't looking for a war hero in this election. As many have said, the main concern is the economy and that's an area where McCain is weak. Hillary will destroy him on the economy and so would Barack. Mac has never had any interest in the economy of domestic issues- and it shows.

Casting himself in this light leaves JMac open to a whisper campaign about his time in a POW camp and the effect on his health, both mental and physical

But let's go beyond the American Hero thing. JMac looks weak beside both our candidates, who are vibrant figures. Image counts and he looks outdated. Talk about going back to the 20th century. He comes off frequently as mean spirited and small. He demonstrates a lack of self-control. Both Hillary and Barack know how to exploit this. Either of them would.

I think the worrrying about McCain here is waaay overblown.

He's as lousy a candidate as Bob Dole. Worse.

[Meshuga]

1. McCain has no chance

The debate last night proved it. Both of our candidates are ready for him. McCain doesn't excite the conservative base and I wouldn't be surprised to see a conservative third party candidate coming in the picture to spoil it for him. He has nothing, no substance, except pathetic slogans to sell the American people.

We are going to either have a woman or an African American man working in the oval office next year. It is hard to imagine McCain beating either candidate.

[EV_Ares]

12. I wouldn't say he has no chance. Right now it is hard to say for anyone, too many factors that can

enter into the race yet which can change things. However, I agree his chances will be slim. Right now his name recognition, reputation, likability, working with everyone, war experience are all positives for him, not sure about his domestic economic plan. He will be the republicans strongest candidate but agree that either Clinton or Obama when they get into a one on one debate with him can beat him. I also agree the republicans are ripe for a third party candidate coming in due to as you say McCain is having trouble with their conservatives and right wingers in the party.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

2. Well...

Mac has never had any interest in the economy of domestic issues- and it shows.

That's not entirely true. He has made an issue of campaign finance reform, and you can rest assured that he'll blast the Clintons over their alleged financial misdeeds.

[cali]

4. true enough but that's not a pocketbook issue

and the focus is there. He may be able to get some hits in on CFR, but that's just not going to cover for his lack of knowledge/plans about the economic issues that concern most Americans.

[H2O Man]

3. It is better

for the democrats to have Willard continue to fight it out with McCain. The longer and harder the republican primary, the more wear & year on the Senator. He is not known for being more pleasant when tired, when his rants are far more likely to come out.

[cali]

5. He's already there. He can't control his nasty side.

He got slammed for his nastiness in the repub debate. I don't think it will actually make much difference whether the repub race goes on until April- he'll lose it at an inopportune moment, no matter what.

[H2O Man]

10. In the debates,

McCain can handle Mitt easily, because Romney has the least skills I've ever seen in a candidate. Hucklebee actually has outdone McCain when they have gone head-to-head. So I think that one real advantage that we would have would be the debates.

The difficulty will be the republican machine. That is something that we should never take for granted. Still, I think that either of our candidates could win the election, and possibly by a rather substantial margin.

One of the questions I think is important to consider is which of the two democrats would be most helpful in terms of the congressional elections? That is an area where the idea of a third party (or 4th) could influence the state elections.

Hell of a primary season. I thought both candidates were outstanding last night.

[zabet]

6. The smear campaign the other

repuke candidates are running,
saying McCain is as liberal as
Hillary, will only serve to help
him with the Independents and the
undecided voters.
Too many people do not want to see
another Clinton in the White House,
or worse, Bill Clinton living in the
White House again.
You also have undecideds who do not
buy into the rehtoric Obama speaks that
soars and flies but, never really lands
anywhere. Obama says we can do things,
we can change things but never really
goes into specifics.
McCain is a very real threat. He is
known for his attempts at being bipartisan,
he is not the warmonger some would have
you believe. He actually fought Congress
to bring troops home in past conflicts.
Stir into that mix the POW issue, he is
a veteran and a war hero to many. That
also plays into his favor with the Iraq
war effecting so many people on an individual
basis.
To think McCain is not a threat amounts to
counting your chickens before they hatch.
You haven't won if the race is not even over.

[cali]

7. I doubt it.

He's a lousy campaigner when all is said and done, and vastly overrated here.

[zabet]

9. He may not be the greatest

campaigner but, that in
part may be due to his lack of
funding, leading to frustration
and a little desperation. You
have to give it to him that he
had the guts to plug it out,
hitching rides, to carry on with
his campaign when anyone else
would have thrown in the towel.
He was on Leno last nite and
comes off as very personable,
has a sharp wit and the audience
really liked him.
He is portrayed at his worst at all
possible times by the press because
he is not the GOP's chosen one.
I wouldn't vote for him but, he is
the one Repuke that gets ANY respect
from me.

[cobalt1999]

8. Kerry bombed using that approach.

I especially grimaced with his entrance to the convention in 2004.

Economy, Economy, Economy, then Domestic issues in that order is how people vote.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. If my listening sessions are any indication, McCain is a threat

People have selective memories, and the "hero" meme rings true with many of them. Also the fact that he "gets along" with everyone in terms of bipartisan actions in the Senate. Age apparently is not a factor-when I asked about that, Reagan was the answer.

We must stress the issues, folks, especially on the economy. What will McCain do to help the workers here in the US? We must stress his hot-headedness. Videos of his short temper would be priceless, as they would help go against the bipartisan argument.

Always remember, the MSM is NOT on our side. They will talk endlessly about the faults of our candidates while saying very little about McCain's, especially in the primary season.

What would be great would be someone making a video of McCain that highlights his shortcomings. These could then be copied on DVDs and distributed to counteract the MSM propaganda.