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

[SouthPrairie]

Wow! Really? Ok, let me get this straight—it was the press’ adoration that obsessed for 6 weeks about the Obamas’ Reverend Wright “connection”, and it was the adoring press that went on and on about Obama being an elitist (code word “uppity”). Yes, I remember.

It was the adoring press that thought Obama was not black enough, and, oh no, too black—for after all—ALL THOSE BLACK PEOPLE WERE SUPPORTING HIM!! AHHHHHHHH…..

And it was the press’ adoration that tripped out about Obama’s use of the word of “revised” in the context of the Iraq war, and, oh lord, the adoring press exalted the fact that Obama voted with the majority of the Senate to pass a crappy FISA bill. Oh yes, the press LOVED that! Especially the LIBERAL press! And add to that the mega "terrorist fist bump" moment of our beloved Obamas--Wow! It doesn't get any better than that.

Then of course it was the adoring FAVORABLE press coverage that managed to obscure the realities of Phil Gramm’s insidious nasty corruptive influence on the McCain campaign.

[unity08]

I agree. Minutes covered do not always equate to favorable coverage. However, if I may add one small correction. The word that Obama used and the media latched on to was not "revised" but the even more innocuous word "refine".

[SouthPrairie]

Thanks. That's what happens when I post at 4 am! ;^)

[DrDemon]

Well stated...

ONLY the "HYPOCRITES" would disagree!

[SouthPrairie]

POOR MCCAIN—THE PRESS DID NOT COVER GRAMM’S CORRUPTIVE INFLUENCE.

They were too busy obsessing with Reverend Jackson (using the term Reverend loosely) desiring to cut Obama’s, shall we say, noogies off. Yeah, that liberal media has sure been sucking up to Obama.

And of course we must not forget the awesome adoring depiction of the Obamas in the New Yorker. Adulation in its highest form.

Let’s straight talk here; McCain’s accusations are utterly disingenuous. He has no problem with the press obsessing with Obama if it is negative press coverage; he only dislikes Obama’s positive coverage.

Face it; it hurts when you see picture after picture of a dynamic leader that can blow you out of the water with his EXPERIENCE in 21st century global communications.

And the fact that he can string a complex articulate group of words together without making a fool out of himself; wow! that sucks.

In addition, he has that unfortunate habit of instilling a confidence in people that he has listened, considered what their perspectives are, and weighed them in the context of America's interests. And—the trifecta—he leads; he is not manipulated and puppeteered by a bevy of corporate masters.

Yeah, that kind of main-street-media bias is quite unfortunate for you McCain. However, it is the audacity of hope for the American people.
Despot Destructors’ Devious Deeds Demean

[Janel]

What a lot of responses. Obviously McCain has brought a lot of new, yet undecided, voters to the table. Go McCain, as you help Obama win!

[wdw101]

anyone still undecided is an idiot......and should remember to vote on wed

[Trishayden]

Wow really. Mccain is like a jelouse ex. He is trying to do everything to get attention. Yet all he is doing however, is show America how out of touch,out of date and how unqualified he really is. Clearly Obama is our next president. Europe loves him, he is doing really well in Middle east, knows what good for this country. Thats what we need right now.

[poliscibabe]

HuffPost's Pick

My friend JMAC,

Thanks for the tip to leave the country. Boy, I thought it would be hard to top that hostage rescue in Colombia! It seems like understanding what's going on overseas and taking the time to really listen and then make my own decisions really works. Who knew? The press has been following my every move - did you find that really annoying? Anyway, I'll be back in the States at the end of the week, I'm looking forward to having a spirited campaign - my friends in Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait asked me to send you this special message,

Dear John, we love you but this is just not working - we are with our mutual friend Barack now. Please understand, we will always hold you in a very special place in our hearts. Sincerely, The United States Armed Forces stationed in the Mideast.

Tough break, I hope there are no hard feelings.

Your Friend,
Barack

[kevenseven]

Hehehehehehe.

[booker52]

Thumbs up, make it happen!!!

[AlindaFaye2000]

This should be sent to the McCain Campaign. I love it!!!!!

[Judy109]

awwww...... A dear John letter

[Oilygarch]

.
*LOL* A REAL Dear John letter..

[XME]

McCain oughta be kissing Obama's @ss because he's distracting the media from actually covering all of his screw-ups!!

[abby4ever]

Yes, but instead his camp has said that O is getting about 144 minutes of MSM press coverage---not just for O's trip, but in the main too---to about 68 minutes of the same for McHopeless.

Is this true?

[maddie0001]

could be, news by definition is something new/unusual. Cranky old white guys running for president is not new.

[JackyA]

McCain has lost his bearings for real this time. To accuse a Senator (Obama) of preferring to lose a war in order to win a campaign for the presidency is outrageous. I think he and his campaign have gone wayyyyyy to far with this insidious comment.

[bodo]

There are limits -- and a desperate McCain has exceeded them repeatedly -- when he declared Obama responsible for the high gas price, when he criticized Obama's holocaust remarks, and now again with his insidious accusation that Obama wants to lose the war. Shame on you, John McCain !

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

Geez Loo-eeez! 60 comments pending and they're puttin' 'em thru 2 at a time!

[Mildmannered]

sometimes they just delete them, you are lucky, Mr. NakedEmperor

[Oilygarch]

.
*LOL* Yup. -& I once had one where they actually corrected my grammar. Must say it was a better choice of words. -but, what if I wouldn't have liked it??.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

I just dont get this! McCain was the one who challenged Obama and insisted that he go overseas to the War Zone and etc. in the first place! Obama just picked up the gauntlet that McCain threw down. The McCain camp--what a bunch of whiners!

[Mattjoe]

McCain must look at Obama in very much the same way Hillary does.

'this was my turn punk'

It's called human nature.

[Arch1]

McCain will win because Bush will launch an attack on Iran's nuclear facillities to live up to his pledge of not allowing Iran to acquire nukes. Once the hornets nest is broken open then the nation must choose between a community organizer and a war veteran. Most Americans want to feel safe and Obama cannot deliver on that.

[maddie0001]

Or, Americans can see that as pubs launching a war just to get elected and vote for the guy with the brains to get us out of that mess.

[twiggy2]

obama - is a man of integrity, sound character, america wants a president they can rely on in the most difficult times. to inspire them, give them hope encourage and make for a better united states.. a grass roots community organizer, has a first hand feel for the people he is helping. he feels the needs, knows the pressures and can deal and relate to issues that are most pressing.
his experience dealing with everyday common people is a plus for any presidential candidate or ceo or manager etc... you make it seem as if being a community organizer is a bad thing. wrong , it's a GREAT THING IT MEANS BARAK OBAMA KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT. TOO FEW OF OUR SO CALLED PUBLIC SERVANTS ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN SERVING SELF. obama is a statesman - a highly respected and influential political leader who is devoted to public service. he is genuine and genuine people always come through the tough issues.

[Truthfighter1]

Ok Mourningdude, if Obama says it 3 or 4 more times over the next few days then you win this one...lol

[goldenshaman]

No one or two men can be allowed to endanger the safety of all for the sake of their own judgements.

Obama is overseas carrying assurances from the real power structure that the wild reign of Bush Co is over.

Bush was in Europe etc not so long ago and I suspect he pretty much got the finger from everyone he talked to.

Conspiracy buffs might note that the Bilderbergers met not so long ago, and they may have sealed Bush's fate.

The Bohemian Grove is going on now and Bush and his cronies are probably not welcome.

The BG's are probably sweating out how to keep the US system from going belly up.

[MourningDude]

Gee, when Big Mac mistakenly switched Iraq for Afghanistan in his interview, HuffPo immediately pounced and made his gaff front page headline, red boldface blaring news.

But then when Barry says "Israel will be a friend to Israel", not a peep.

Not one 'Barry needs to learn his geography!'. Not one 'Barry thinks Israel is already two different countries!!'. No 'I think Barry's age is getting to him!!!'.

Not that I'm surprised by this, but the way HuffPo blared out the minor Big Mac statement was such campy farce, it strained belief.

[CocteausTwin]

Boy are your arguments lame, MorningCon­stitutiona­l.

[ZimboChick]

that is because there is bo barry running for election.

[seattleblogger]

Well, actually, BO used to go by Barry when he was younger. He changed to using his given name while in college. Read "Dreams From My Father"- it's an excellent autobiographical book written by BO and a must read for any true supporter.

[NochlessMonster]

Apparently O's statement went right over your tiny, pea head..........

[Oilygarch]

.
Why do some posts make it and others don't? What is the actual criteria? Wait, wait, if somebody actually tried to answer this, would the post actually be posted?

Will my queries even make it?

Where is the line drawn to allow for as full a relevant spectrum of posting possible to make it as democratic an ideological collaboration possible? Where?.

[BWonka]

Waaaaaaaaaa
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Waaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaa

Your desperation stinks more than Bayonne NJ

[elcojonu]

So Bayonne still stinks eh, hasn't changed since I lived back there( North Bergen ) 30 years ago.
Back in them days Staten Island was worse( the garbage dump for the City ), is it still just as bad ?
Good Ol' Jersey - I love it (really, I do); what memories !

[MorningJoeMikaIsMarried]

Not the same and doesn’t matter how bad you try to spin it

Something is seriously not right with John McCain

[LAB10]

Now the old man is getting grumpy and just down right mean spirited! He should stop whining and take care of that little mental recession/dimentia. Better yet, take a nap.

[MorningJoeMikaIsMarried]

Very Funny

McCain should be careful what he wished for

[WatchIt]

Mc'Cain gonna name his VP?

Great! Then we know the "team" and the "actual presidential" candidate in the person of the VP.

We shall know who and what to beat. Simple.

Let him. *Bring it on.* Ow! my fingers sting from typing that! Hahah.