The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute

McCain Lives

By James H. Miller

John McCain has a real shot at being elected President. Who would have ever thought? One result from the Republican convention, besides the obvious success of Sarah Palin, is that McCain’s campaign is absolutely at the top of their game. Consider this metamorphosis. Last year John McCain’s campaign was in shambles; he had fired almost the entire staff; was on the verge of a fiscal meltdown; and had almost no shot at the Republican nomination. In fact, McCain’s ascendancy was based more on luck than skill. He was, in a real sense, the last man standing as the potential front-runners simply fell off the cliff. But today his comeback is sparked by a campaign staff that has given him a real shot at winning this election. The one issue his campaign clearly understands, and has become their entire focus, is that if this election is about the economy and George Bush, John McCain loses. They must make this election about Barack Obama and his credentials.

It was clear at the Republican convention that Barack Obama’s experience was McCain’s focal point. The media’s frenzied coverage of Sarah Palin also helped. McCain’s people must have known that the media would beat her up because of her so-called lack of experience. But the real winner for them was not necessarily the focus on Palin, but the media’s continued use of the term “inexperienced.” To a certain degree it is irrelevant whether Sarah Palin is experienced enough to be Vice-President. The more important point is if Barack Obama is experienced enough to be President. There is no way in the world that Barack Obama’s campaign wants the media talking extensively about experience. They know they can’t win if that is the issue on voter’s minds on November 4. McCain’s campaign’s ability to have Palin become a target of the media and have them concentrate on her overshadows their focus on problems like George Bush or the economy.

Palin of course turned out almost too good to be true. Her speech was wonderfully crafted with real professionalism and delivered by a very articulate woman. The issue of whether McCain’s campaign had vetted her properly now seems irrelevant. But one point that is now obvious is that when pundits and analysts talk about vetting they mean her views on issues and her experience. However, McCain’s campaign clearly went out of their way to make sure she was a person who could speak in prime time. They also understood from watching tapes that this was a candidate who could go after their Democratic opponents with a toughness seldom seen in politicians these days. The fabulous lines about hockey moms and pit bulls were not lost on anyone watching Palin’s speech. She is one tough lady. One wonders what Joe Biden must have been thinking watching her performance at the convention. The Vice Presidential debate will not be a walkover.

One also wonders what Bill and Hillary Clinton must be thinking. Palin has been able to raise the issues that the Clinton campaign desperately wanted to use against Barack Obama. But because it was a Democratic primary they never found the messenger to question his incredible lack of experience.

McCain’s campaign has given their candidate a real shot at being the next President of the United States. Sarah Palin was a plus, but don’t underestimate the people behind McCain’s efforts. When the first ad came out about Barack Obama being a celebrity there was much criticism about its tone and appropriateness. Their campaign strategy is now clear. The McCain campaign is trying to make Barack Obama the center of this election, whether it be his celebrity status, his lack of experience or his liberal views. They have been very good at getting this message across. John McCain may not win this election but it will not certainly be the fault of his campaign.

-September 8, 2008

McCain Lives

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.