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

[humuhumunukunukuapuaa]

Watching BHO running circles around JMcC?
PRICELESS!

[GeoLee]

After hearing tonight on KO that BHO's legal group has announced that BHO won't try to prosecute the current administration, I am beginnning to wonder who has who by the crosshairs. Jonathan Turley was astounded to hear Obama's team might be actually leveling the crimes into categories leaving only the "most egregious" as the only ones that might be prosecuted. I guess we could try the "Oh officer, it was not egregious enough...I was only 10 mph over the speed limit" and see if that would work. Maybe running circles should be running in circles...what does this administration have on him? They must have something on Pelosi and Reid the way they so forthrightly announced they would not impeach. Priceless? Sounds like the price to adherence to the Consittution and rule of law might be priced-less. Are we really going to ge a difference in November? I am just really sickened to think the current administration may get "out of jail free" cards no matter who we elect. I think BHO should be strong about upholding the law and put Bush, and the GOPers, on notice that their only option would be preemptive pardons and then the Dems would be able to hold that over them forever and I don't think the president could pardon himself.!

[aaronr2000]

I too shared your concerns, but then again I took a closer look at the statement and I think I know what's at play here. He's not doing a Pelosi, which would be "prosecution is off the table". Instead he's trying to put the people who would buy the "vote McCain or Obama would drag every Republican through the courts" at ease while leaving the door open for prosecutions. The word "egredious" is relative. That's my story and I'm sticking to it., because if this administration gets more off the hook than Congress has already allowed them then I'm losing all faith in our country as being a nation of laws.

[takeamericanback08]

Veterans Respond to McCain's "Obama Wants to Lose" Remark
by Brandon Friedman
Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 02:48:39 PM PDT
Soldiers are pissssssssssed
Now on the Daily Kos

[gladys46]

K.Oberman says Mc makes false assertion of surge & sunni awakening timeline! Mc sitting with K.Couric said that it was Gen McFarland who supported that surge caused sunni awakening by protecting those sunnis & tribal leaders in Anbar Province ... however, the surge had never been formed nor in effect when the sunni awkening took place!!

Mc's is so overboard by O's very savvy Mid-E journey until he just can't think straight ... he's really on to a dark & far side!!

[macbabe]

K.Couric also cut the middle part of her tape out of her report!!

[gladys46]

Yeah ... what's that about!!? Didn't she know that would leak?

[goldenshaman]

It's possible that the election is already over.

That doesn't mean there won't be an election.

It just means that a whole bunch of people with
power and money have gotten together and
made Obama President in fact.

Bush still sits in the Oval Office, but no one
jumps to his commands any more.

The election will merely ratify the choice that
has been made.

We of the Netroots nation are not the only
one's who are tired of the predations of the
Bush gang.

It is possible that those with the power to do so
have done it.

By "those" I mean CEO's, Generals, Senators,
High-level career bureaucrats, etc.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

You should change your moniker to Golden Sham--it would be much more apt!
(Sorry, you aint no Shaman!)

[LAB10]

Grumpy old Mac should stop whining and see a shrink about his mental recession! What a jerk!

[americanalien]

I agree.

[macbabe]

he encouraged him to go!

[starrianna]

Please don't let there be another 9/11 to magically help the GOP.

[60andcounting]

"Magically help the GOP"????? Why would anyone think that allowing America to be successfully attacked twice would be a bonus for McBush? You trust the guard on watch that lets the robber in the door again?

[TAC]

"Why would anyone think that allowing America to be successfully attacked twice would be a bonus for McBush?"

I think you may be overestimating the intelligence, awareness and caring of the American people...

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Another September 11 would result in Mc Cain getting, maybe, 5% of the vote.

The administration, and its successor, would rightfully bear the blame of not preventing it.

[GeoLee]

Depending on the states, that 5% could cause us to have to hear "Mr President" being said to the wrong person and then have to endure 4 years of presenility merging to the real thing.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

Correct, just as they bear the blame for the first one!

[ann1]

starrianna--I know exactly what you mean!

[gusvidal]

Mccain does not want to leave Iraq because ,according to him, it will degenerate in a civil war. So he prefers that our troops to be guardian of Iraq government rather than send help to our soldiers in Afghanistan fighting the perpetrators of 9/11.Shame on him and the ignorant media for not pointing this fact out.
7/22/2008 7:20:32 PM

[Luke2John]

Frustrated because our image of him is getting out of a golf cart with an aging ex-president? Frustrated because he comes across as tired, and with tired ideas? Frustrated because his economic ideas are laughed at? Frustrated because the best he can do is refer to Czechoslvakia in his foreign policy statements?

Or frustrated because of Obama's coverage.

Gee, McCain, to what would you attribute your frustration?

(seems like a no-brainer to me)

[WasteNJ]

Sounds like a classic example of "Be Careful What You Wish For". McCain called Obama out, and Obama stepped up with a right hook.

Pow!

And his ears will be ringing all week.

[WillRogersUSA]

following Obama’s “Good Will Tour” then you know that he doing what Republicans don’t want him to do over there in the Middle, TALK. He is the best at that. In the cowboy world we call that “shooting the bull.” Only in this case it is called shooting the elephant, dead in it’s tracks. This little trip he is taking is to prove that he can walk the talk he is squawkin. In any case McCain did the opposite and just today issued a statement that might send him on a vacation to the otter darkness. Now he has done this before, he took a trip over his own words, some geography thing. Which will for sure make Obama’s act look really good. In the show biz world you always know to follow an act that is not as good as yours, so far so good Obama. Mr. McCain, I have a FREE tool you can use to check your facts GOOGLE IT! don’t judge to quickly because every dog has it’s day and today is just Obama’s day. Remember back a few weeks ago and a few more than that and so on and so on. Obama has had many a bones that he has tried to bury, and only until after the elections are over will we know if it will stay down. Obama is just crossing his fingers in hopes that folks wont go playing in the closet and dig up any old skeletons.

[americanalien]

McCain's formula:

2(Bob Dole's dullness) + [(Reagan's Age - his charisma) (Bush's Policies/his dismal approval ratings)] = Presidency - McCain

[AdLib]

Now that's the new math!

[GeoLee]

As a Kansan who proudly can say I never voted for Dole even though at a university function years ago I had no alternative but to shake his left had to still be considered polite), I do have to defend him, nevertheless, as one of the funniest standup comics to ever have been in the senate or on the campaign trail for president. The guy can be hysterically funny with his quick comebacks. Yes he was acidy with it, but even those of us who could not stand his belief system, his election year tears as he recounted his life story, and his votes cast still could somehow stand the man and enjoy his humorous comebacks.

[wanj]

You know things are bad for McPencil when TIMES thinks it's time for "CHANGE"...

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1825337,00.html

[Jessegirl]

One of these posts reads that McCain was only greeted by ONE repoter in Manchester. HA! It probably was a CNN reporter asking John how having a black president will hurt black people AND how do black people hurt other black people by voting...They should ask how having Bush as a Prez has hurt EVERYONE!

[Flagal]

It was just one, yes My guess, a relative or acquantance.

[LeftLeanWing]

Looking for free Beer.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

Number one, they should be more issued in how he comes off in the media. He many not realize it, but he comes off arrogant,above the public. That isn't how the public wants to see any new candidate, reduces thier faith that he would represent them. That alone will cost him HUGE votes. If he really had smart people working for him, they would know how to work his trip to thier advantage. If he loses this election, and yeah it still could happen, its becuase he didn't listten to the right people. An idiot should know how to spin this, use this. Obamma is a smart guy, but he needs to listen to those who see what the public sees, hears. If he isn't paying attemtion to how he carries himself, treats issues, he will lose. That's on him. I think people need to see he is a dem, but also is playing both sides. For those out of jobs, healthcare, homes, wages, want the war to end tommorrow, that isn't smart. He needs to pick a side and stick to it.

[ZHarris]

Number two...

[BWonka]

heh!

[WLA]

Only stoopid people who believe the right wing pundits' narrative that he is "arrogant" buy that nonsense.

[Nochnoi]

50 mavericky points to you from his gooey maverickness..........

[Flagal]

Since he was with G H today, he should call them "1000 mavericky point s of light"

[Jessegirl]

Ya, we only want to see old white men all confident and cocky. Obama should definately "dumb down" a little. You are so right Tavis...

[Jessegirl]

You said it Tavis! America should only see old white men all confident and cocky!

[Passenger57]

Maaan, they couldn't WAIT for Obama to mess up during his trip....HA! They also cannot stand the fact that he is liked everywhere he goes,instead of being reviled and detested like their point(y head) man Bush.