McCain Camp "Frustrated" With Obama's Trip: Reports

Is John McCain frustrated, or maybe a little of jealous, of Obama's headline grabbing trip? Looks like all signs point to yes as Iraq's Prime Minister gives new confidence to Obama's withdrawal plan, Bloomberg News says "Middle Eastern and European leaders are lining up to hear what Barack Obama has to say," and General Petraeus gave photographers fresh photo-ops with the Democratic leader.

ABC Anchor George Stephanopoulos told Good Morning America Tuesday, "They are frustrated in the McCain camp." McCain and former President Bush tried to laugh-off being jealous during a news conference yesterday at the Bush compound in Maine.

Sen. John McCain and former President George H.W. Bush laughed off questions about the size and scale of Sen. Barack Obama's anticipated events in Europe, after the Democratic contender concludes a tour of the Middle East including Iraq and Afghanistan, but the truth wasn't far from the surface.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., laughed off concerns that he is "jealous" of the attention Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is getting on his world tour but the McCain camp is considering a "surprise" that may steal the spotlight from his rival.

"We're jealous is all," the former president told reporters on Monday outside the Bush family home in Maine.

CNN's Dana Bash details John McCain's plan to take take some of the spotlight off Obama while the nation's press corps follow him around half way across the world.

McCain is expected to slam Obama's position on Iraq ahead of a town hall in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Tuesday...

... Shrugging off the attention surrounding Obama's trip, the McCain campaign is doing what it can to keep their rival from using the trip to burnish his foreign policy credentials.

There are numerous reports that McCain might try to steal Obama's fire by announcing his VP pick this week.

McCain campaign sources confirm to CNN that there have been discussions high in the campaign about naming a running mate this week. They also say that, whether or not the announcement is made, the choices have been "narrowed" to the point where McCain could make a decision that soon.

HuffPost's Nico Pitney has more.

Comments

[NoOffense]

"While the public in the US debates an alleged ‘love affair‘ of the mainstream media with the Democratic presidential hopeful, there is absolutly not the slightest doubt about the big crush the German press and public alike have on Obama. The Germans are pretty much a fourteen-year old teenager right now, minus the pimples, but with all the obsession a young and unexperienced heart can develop when it is captivated by a charming heartthrob for the first time." (more here: http://www.tapmag.net/wordpress/2008/07/28/germans-are-like-totally-in-love-with-obama/)

[doofmann02]

McCranky can't handle criticism like a man, and is now whimpering like a two year old about a lack of attention. Wah, wah, wah. I guess George was right: you start out in one from of childhood and end up in another.

[AgeofReason]

It's a campaign of whiners!

[DonDavis]

McCain to 'Match' Obama With Tour of Epcot's 'World Showcase'
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=2252

[Oilygarch]

.
C'mon! Give JMAC a break:

It's easy!

Just think like JMAC:

Think ''Afghczecganoslovpakistania''. It's all one and the same. Yes, it can be frustrating to be confused.

Is the world a safer place under the reign of Injured Brain Syndrome?

Let's give it a rest and let's not forget to swallow our nice little medication this time. .

[CaptainZero1969]

I have no doubt that McCain and his staff are frustrated. The media is paying more attention to Obama but not for the reasons McCain might like to believe. It’s not a liberal bias issue. It’s that, at the very root, Obama’s candidacy is more exciting, positive, forward looking and competent. The American people see this and it creates excitement and energy that McCain hasn’t been able to match. As a reporter, you’ve got to go where the story is and in this election cycle, the story has been the astounding rise of a little know politician from Illinois.

McCain is in quite a pickle. He’s been outclassed in fundraising, rhetoric, organization, management and the ability to inspire the base. I’ve heard that the McCain of 2000 wouldn’t vote for the McCain of 2008. To me, this rings true. In 2k, McCain said true things, which of course infuriated the religicon base that was ascendant at the time. Determined not to make that mistake again, McSellOut embraced all the bad policies that are popular with the base but discredited with most of the electorate today.

All that said, progressives can’t be complacent. Give money to the DNC and Obama and VOTE!

[seal62]

You hit the nail on the head.

[ndngrrl71]

How can this man be taken serious? He clearly demonstrates frustration day in and day out. He's probably wondering how did I get stuck with this job. You know it's over when your standing in front of the cheese aisle with only a handful of reporters covering you. The cheese aisle - oh good lord, that's almost as bad as GW making jokes about America when he thinks the cameras are off.

[dadele]

McCain came to Maine on Monday, the same day Big Papi/David Ortiz arrived for a rehad assignment with our minor league team. the result? In the local media McCain was barely mentioned, while the media fawned over Ortiz. The guy just can't catch a break, even with his opponent out of the country.

[NoElleNo]

Poor Mr. "I know how to win a war" McCain. It's sad how rapidly his mental capacity has slipped to the "depths of ridiculum". If John McCain knows how to win a war he didn't figure it out until now. Has America developed Alzheimer's? McCain was a P.O.W, HE GOT CAUGHT (think football :tackled) and contrary to McCain's erroneous belief...WE LOST THAT WAR.
Perhaps he's speaking of a "war of the mind". He managed to keep it together mentally, make it out alive, was heartless enough to have an affair, dump his first wife who was crippled in an accident, yet he had scars, a limp AND a cane. She "wasn't pretty anymore" so he upgraded to a young, wealthy replacement- fine example of his morality, family values and committment!
Given his military and POW experience, I do not ot think he is sound or impartial enough to run this country. America doesn't NEED/ WANT another Reagan era "error". We already have "W the Great American Errorist". McCain's time has past, he should retire or be front man for "Geri and the Atircs".
It's a new day; time for new ideas, new strategies and an America we can all be proud to call home. Lets shake our stereotypes, forget about race/color, finance and party affiliation- we need a President who has America and Americans best interest at heart. Who else but Obama?

[SouthPrairie]

OMG! Geri and the Atrics!! ROTFL

[GeekyGirl]

HAHA! America has developed Alzheimer's because so many Americans are actually considering a president who HAS Alzheimer's.

[obroni]

Who cares who McCain's VP pick is?

[SignedSealedDelivered]

i'll bet he'll keep his damn mouth shut next time when he "double dog dares" obama to go to the middle east. obama is getting all of the press and mccain's widdle feewings are hurt.

[rodnacious]

You know the saying... "Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it'

[lapdogs]

Gee, wasn't it FAUX's Ticking Clock and McCain's Campaign that prodded Obama into going to the Middle East??

Now that he is looking more Presidential, both McCain and FAUX are peaved. They need only look into the mirror about the trip!!

[elmysterio]

Geeze... this is so retarded... The spectacle of choosing a president has degraded into meaninglessness. McCain is just an ignorant old man, and Obama is a corporate stooge. Face it folks, we're doomed. This whole 'election' thing is just a dog and pony show to make us feel like we have a say. We don't.

[SouthPrairie]

Obama's campaign has been funded by the people of the United States. The Republiccans have been raising over 10 times the amount of corporate dollars as the DNC. It is McCain that has the puppet masters. Do you realize that Gramm was his economic advisor? You know, the one that called the American people whiners.

No, Obama is a competent diplomat, not a stooge.

[rodnacious]

Help me understand where Obama is a 'corporate stoog'. I don;t get it?

[kevenseven]

To all the tr0lls and PUMAs who are whining about BO's success on this trip:

Tough, just tough noogies.

[abby4ever]

I just got here...only to find out from Keven that the PUMAS are on the prowl again. I was hoping to be rid of them by now.