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.
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Huffington Post/Washington Post | Katharine Zaleski
First Posted: 07-25-08 03:00 PM | Updated: 08- 2-08 05:12 AM