McCain's Attacks Worrying Some In GOP

New York Times:

In recent days Senator John McCain has charged that Senator Barack Obama "would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign," tarred him as "Dr. No" on energy policy and run advertisements calling him responsible for high gas prices.

The old happy warrior side of Mr. McCain has been eclipsed a bit lately by a much more aggressive, and more negative, Mr. McCain who hammers Mr. Obama repeatedly on policy differences, experience and trustworthiness.

By doing so, Mr. McCain is clearly trying to sow doubts about his younger opponent, and bring him down a peg or two. But some Republicans worry that by going negative so early, and initiating so many of the attacks himself rather than leaving them to others, Mr. McCain risks coming across as angry or partisan in a way that could turn off some independents who have been attracted by his calls for respectful campaigning.

The drumbeat of attacks could also undermine his argument that he will champion a new brand of politics.

"The McCain campaign, I think, is being pulled in two directions," said Todd Harris, a Republican strategist who worked for Mr. McCain in 2000. "On the one hand, this race is largely a referendum on Obama, and whether or not he's going to pass the leadership threshold in the eyes of voters. So being aggressive against Obama on questions of leadership and trust and risk are important, but at the same time I think they need to be very careful because McCain is not at his best when he is being overly partisan and negative."

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[storeyy]

According to the McCain campaign..."John McCain doesn't speak for his campaign." I thought I had heard it all, but this tops everything.

[NotPC]

I don't think McCain has been hard on Obama at all.........this is politics, and if Baby Obama can't take it then he needs to pick up his toys and go home. This is just the beginning.­.......onc­e we get nearer the election, then the gloves will come off - that's how this game is played.

[sher2x4]

Go ahead elect this man to be the next president of the united states.

Or maybe you might ask yourself,
am I-we better off today
than we were the day dubya took office.

For the life of me i can't even fathom why this man is even being considered for the
highest elected position in the nation.

It appeares that some of us have lost our rabbit a$$ minds.

[Bitsko]

My theory is that he had a lot of years to curry favor with, and vote for tax breaks for, local repub groups, i.e. fuddy-duddy chambers of commerce and veterans of the spanish-american war. the repugnican party is dead. long live their successors, the libertarians. ugh!

[merle7]

When you as a candidate has no plans or vision for taking this country forward all you can do is go negative and attack. When you adopt proposals that your opponent reveals all you have left is to attack. When your voting record contradicts everything you now supposedly stand for why not attack. When you can't remember what policies you stand for from one minute to the next please attack your opponent.
When you are a republican the word fair is not in your vocabulary,

[imusintheevening]

Keep it up. It will all crumble in the first real debate. The GOP strategy will backfire when they are on stage together.

[Bitsko]

Love that headline. Thanks for making my day.

[londonrainbow]

Hey ya'll

It wil soon be MCSRAIN's birthday. What we getting him? Dentures, BVD's, diapers, rocking chair , brain scan, new hip, botox, colostomy bag, ..............hmmm, anyone?

This 'my friends' is ..........­..........­.......

[Bitsko]

I'm getting him a saguaro cactus chair. Or maybe I'll introduce him to a fellow Arizonan who isn't rich. That ought to be a new experience for him.

[freeinquirer]

I just have two questions for the hero senator McCain:
1. Can we look at your military records please?
2. Which are those wars that you keep saying that you won and knew how to win?
I am eagerly waiting for your response.
Thank you.

[Bitsko]

My friend,

1. yes, but only for a nanosecond -- any more time than that and the terrorists win

2. the Spanish-American war -- my young friend William Randolph Hearst knows what's right

By acknowledging that you are awaiting a response, you are acknowledging that time moves in a straight line, and thus acknowledging that evolution is true. Ergo, my friend, you are a terrorist.

[nomorebombs]

9/11 is the crux of it all

[magggs]

"...at the same time I think they need to be very careful because McCain is not at his best when he is being overly partisan and negative."

When is McCain "at his best?" Is his "best" telling his "friends" about his war record and his great patriotism and knowledge of foreign policy? His firm grasp of Soviet-Cze­choslovaki­an relations? His stand against/for offshore drilling? His votes against/great support for our fighting men and women? His stand for/against women getting equal pay ? His deep knowledge of economics and familiarity with twenty-first century communications technology?

Dude, these attack ads *are* his best. In fact, they're his "only".

[nomorebombs]

diebold decides..

[oxford]

What would you expect, with members of the treacherous PNAC as part of his campaign??

[vfippinger]

They should be worried, damn worried! Not only when he is negative but whenever he opens his mouth.
The Campaign is now saying (in effect) Mccain does not speak for the Campaign. They must feel like Aides in a Nursing Home trying to keep the foul mouthed Dirty Old man in check!

I still cannot believe Obama can not pull further away in the polls.

What's wrong with America? You elected the Town idiot twice and consider the Insane as a follow up act>
Geez.

[alfrede]

Hi,

Is there a backup plan in case the negative campaigning doesn't work?

Have the American people had enough of this style of campaigning?

We will soon find out. Won't we?

[NickNas]

He HAS to keep attacking. The second he stops he will be FORCED to talk ISSUES and answer some of OUR questions like. WHEN WILL YOU RELEASE YOUR MILITARY RECORDS THAT YOU SAY QUALIFY YOU TO BE PRESIDENT??? ( answer is never as they are very embarassing and do not back up his lies)

FACT If he does he will be ruined in a week. How will he explain being passed over for command and all of his sub standard evaluations and theh reports of those 5 crashed planes.

KERRY DID! ( this should be our new chant until he does)

[norkas]

I am a republican PROUDLY voting for Barak Obama and believe these attacks will help Obama big time. Some of the attacks are childish and brainless. Almost like a child lashing out. Some attack adds are clever but Mc Cains have not been clever at all and are often easy to tell with one click they are lies. John Mc Cain is not sure what a computer can do and perhaps we are lucky he has not figured it out yet. It so easy to check facts today for anyone yet Mc Cain lives in some kind of bubble that is hard to figure out. Is he ignorent. Or a ego maniac that believes the world is stupid and he is smart. I am sure many of his supporters shake at nite wondering what kind of foolish remark will come out of his mouth next. Mc Cain is NOT a good person to listen to advice, even those around his admit it. Let him continue to bury himself.