McCain Camp Worries It Will Be Overshadowed Until Democratic Convention

John McCain has been forced to play the pip-squeak all week. The candidate has been trying to get one word in edgewise while Barack Obama has been swarmed by adoring officials and supporters overseas. Even when the McCain camp tried to drum up media criticism around Obama canceling a visit to US troops in Germany, they were silenced and made to look like the ones who had gaffed. They criticized Obama for canceling the trip, only to be told later that it was in fact a long-standing Pentagon policy that had forced the cancellation.

With the Olympics starting August 8, the McCain camp is now nervous it won't be able to get a word in before the Republican National Convention in September. The Washington Post suggests that fear will spur McCain to name a running mate very soon so his decision won't be overshadowed.

The Washington Post should beware of the McCain camp on this issue. Conservative columnist Robert Novak said they may have used him this week to drum up VP speculation. The ultimate reason for using Novak was of course to get some time in the spotlight!

Read below. McCain aides are indicating his decision will come very soon.

Anxious to counter the blanket media coverage that has followed Sen. Barack Obama on his overseas journey, Sen. John McCain is weighing whether to announce his running mate in the coming weeks before the spotlight shifts to China and the opening of the Olympic Games next month.

"He's in a position to make [the decision] on short notice if he wanted to," said Charles R. Black Jr., one of McCain's top political advisers.

Two top aides to the presumptive Republican nominee said the decision is likely to be announced after Obama returns from Europe on Sunday and before the Beijing Olympics begin Aug. 8. They said the campaign fears that unanticipated events coming out of China -- whether in the form of athletic accomplishments or human rights protests -- could deflect attention from the announcement if it were made during the Games.

The Olympics conclude the day before the Democratic nominating convention opens in Denver, and the GOP convention begins in Minneapolis-St. Paul just four days after the Democratic gathering ends.

Comments

[flea1989]

I would rather be known for being smart about how to win (surge) and withdraw, than to run and quit!!!!

[lisakaz2]

Define "win" for once. How can one "win" an occupation?

[VivaZapata]

the gains of the surge are presented as increased military presence, but the real success (if you can all it that) was paying the sunnis to not fight. had they not taken the money and continued to fight, the mainstream media presentation would have had to come up with a less credible definition of success. quit and run or stay and spend? but with the economy in the toilet, and americans trying to keep up with rising costs, how long can we afford to stay? ten years? twenty? make it a hundred?

[gifu]

Wow! This picture holds as much power as the one of Michael Dukakis riding around in the tank back in 1988. Pass it around, Huffpo.

[JeanPaulSatire]

In the accompanying photo, Johnny "Ace" Mc Ancient proudly displays his new cell phone, purchased to replace the clay tablets and reed stylus he used for his cuneiform commuiqués.

NOW who says Mc Ancient isn't tech savvy?

[VivaZapata]

"clay tablets and reed stylus" is a funny bit, but let's give him credit: he is holding the mobile phone prototype right side up. you can't say he isn't a quick learner. look how fast he switches political gears.

[starfire426]

Is this man even aware that we're a little over 8 years into the new millineium??? Or is he just stuck in some kind of time warp??? He may as well get two soup cans...run some string through it and call that a telephone. Lord, help us!!!!

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

His VP pick will have to walk on water!

[Mekarri]

Then maybe he will pick Chris Angel.

[recruitgal]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4392846.ece

I urge you to read this - a work of satirical genius courtesy of the London Times. :o)

[SouthPrairie]

America--you need to choose!

Don't buy into their fear machine.

McCain does not put his country first, he puts his play for power first and that is squarely in the back-pockets of lobbyists.

Obama's position has not changed. He will pull out our troops RESPONSIBLY. Unlike the REPUBLICANS who got us into this money pit.

McCain will begin paying for this war by denying American citizens the federal funds that they have paid into. But paying for mercenary soldiers at three times what our service men and women make is OK? Sure, as long as we vote to stop expanded benefits for our beloved soldiers, neglect VA hospitals, ignore healthcare and our crumbling infrastructure and siphon our tax dollars to KBR and Blackwater.

This mess was made by REPUBLICANS exploiting our national tragedy by claiming that anyone who did not go along with their LIES FOR A WAR OF CHOICE were unpatriotic.

To think that more of the McSame would be good for America is to sell out your country. This would be a dangerous road to go down. You are talking about TRUSTING individuals who lied us into war. And if your of the mind to say that Mccain is not the same as Bush, then why does he have the same people running his campaign?

[JohnFObama]

If he's ready to make the announcement on short notice then i'm betting it's Romney. And i hope it is, Romney's mormonism will make even more social conservatives stay at home or vote Obama and it won't help with independents that much.

[jsinclair]

He's not that daring. And I doubt its Ridge either, for the same reason.

Pawlenty is the boring, safe choice. My money's on him.

[AzCat]

Last week, John's first foray into cyberspace go off to a slow start when he couldn't figure out where to put the floppy disc. Word on the street is that his introduction to the cell phone went much better. "Amazing how small they make these things. It does have nice big buttons, which I like"

[MrDeadeye2U]

McCain camp worried new cell phone gizmo may render wiretapping obsolete.

[TJoad]

McCain: "Whenever I put this in my pocket, Cindy asks if that's my Miami Vice phone, or if I've taken a triple does of Viagra."

[ndnndpendent]

Hello, hello, I'd like to make a phone call, on the collect.

[jackstpaul]

Ron Paul sticks his finger in McCain's eye during RNC convention

He was set to hold a 1 day event in Minneapolis during the RNC, which is in St. Paul at Xcel arena where Obama declared victory in June & where the NHL's Wild play.

It just got bumped up in scale big-time so that it's now a 3-day overlapping affair at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis, where the NBA Timberwolves play.

Brilliant move by Paul

[jackstpaul]

Ron Paul sticks his finger in McCain's eye during RNC convention

He was set to hold a 1 day event in Minneapolis during the RNC, which is in St. Paul at Xcel arena where Obama declared victory in June & where the NHL's Wild play.

It just got bumped up in scale big-time so that it's now a 3-day overlapping affair at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis, where the NBA Timberwolves play.

Brilliant move by Pau

[LeSamourai]

So... Where did Jοhnny hide the Delorian?

[rosal]

I am sure not in West Virginia

[LeSamourai]

I think that you're right... too advanced for JMc anyways, more likely an ox-cart with PCP fed oxen.

[WLA]

Look again. It's behind that huge phone.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

Can you believe that after McCain took huge heat when he revealed he was technologically challenged and couldnt use a cell phone or computer he is photographed with this giant Hollywood prop looking phone out of the 1970s! Honest to God, I believe his campaign handlers must be out of the Obama camp--the same ones who sent him to eat Bratwurst at a Hoffbrau while Obama addressed 200,000 in Berlin! If they wrote it for a SNL skit it would be rejected as too far fetched!