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

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

It seems like it's a wee bit too late to be worried about a 'negative' tone.

The McCain ads that are running here (in Colorado) are basically focused on the same theme: "I'm a veteran of the armed forces......and besides that other guy has big ears, speaks way too eloquently, eats too much arugula, is responsible for high gas prices, the depletion of the polar ice caps, will force americans to eat nothing but 100% whole grain, is the reason behind Amy Winehouse's recent relapse, and beats small woodland creatures with miniature basketballs in his spare time......vote for me vote for me...I'm John McCain and I approve this message"

This is still tame, folks. Wait until the 527's start to gear up....that's when it get's ugly and the innuendo starts to come out about race, age, drug use, missing papers from college, swiftboats, etc. etc.

[kdublya]

Kitchen Sink 2.0
=-=-=

He's working hard to get that damned cloud to yell back.

Rabble rabble rabble

[Gary47]

Grandpas. Where you go to visit, not where you go to vote.

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

Unless you have a stool softener...then you can hang out as long as you like! Happy colons make happy grandpas!

[JiminNC]

H illary tried the same thing McDoink and she's a better man than you!

[mairs]

That's right. Hillary did it better.

[ChiGuy]

Apparently he learned nothing from the debacles of the Hillarity campaign.
Good.

[nellie]

And this time it's different, because O can hit back.

[Superbus]

Obama is being taken to task for his poor judgement and lack of understanding of both world affairs and domestic policy.

[ChiGuy]

By HIM???? LOL!!!!!

[stevietheman]

Ineffectively, as Obama has superior judgment and understanding on these matters.

[AdLib]

You're so right, he doesn't even know where the Iraq/Afghanastan border is.

[nellie]

Don't you mean the Iraq-Pakistan border?

[VolvoBirkenstock]

That's rich.

Coming from a proven ignorant liar like you.

[kdublya]

"Mr. McCain is running the absolute most pathetic campaign I have ever seen in my whole life," Stein said in his unmistakable monotone delivery. "His campaign is just heartbreakingly pathetic. He is a very impressive guy. He is a brave guy, but he is running the most lackluster campaign I have ever seen in my entire life. I would have thought Bob Dole's campaign would have set a record for poor campaigns, but this one is even worse. I mean it is shocking." - Ben Stein.

Perhaps you've heard of him? He did a chameo on Blind Date.

Oh, and he was Nixon's speech writer... +Something about winning his money?

[Pyrrhus]

Bueller...Bueller...

[nellie]

His Grumpy Old Man is showing.

[TroubleNYC]

I have no problem with McCain hammering at an opponent on policy differences or experience. But on trustworthiness?

[insanityfollows]

Since when does the GOP give a rat's ass about negative campaign tactics. What, are they kidding???

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Of course they are worried.

The down ticket candidates could be caught up in the backlash.

[Superbus]

The talking heads and other "professionals" are so out of touch with real Americans. McCain's ads hit Super Oos in his major weaknesses, Lack of experience and poor judgement.

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Real Americans are not your fellow lying tr0lls, shortbus.

No matter what you think.

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

I think the problem with both of those labels of "lack of experience" and "poor judgment" don't stick because they're way too subjective. Lack of experience and poor judgment compared to our current administration? JFK? Nixon? Spongebob Squarepants?

Until there is a clearer definition of those terms, and those terms are equally applied to Mr. McCain, the McCain ads will continue to be portrayed as angry and lacking substance.

[BeeClone]

And you are a real American?

LOL

[nellie]

I heard today about one Re publican candidate who substituted GOP for his party affiliation and is running ads touting his work with B arack O bama.

[Rog49Thomas]

What's behind this sudden discovery of a conscience?

Are these the same folks who were "worried" about Willie Horton (Dukakis), swift boats (Kerry), etc? (Those three letters cover quite a lot when you think about it).

Or is the worry motivated by fear that their guy is not doing too well?

[ChiGuy]

As is the Reepers' wont, they're only worried about themselves.
Particularly the ones that have to vie for reelection this November.

[Totto]

The "decrepit one"is doing better than he ought, due to a compliant corporate media. And some of the same Democrats that didn't speak up when Kerry was swift-boated.

[Rog49Thomas]

One would think that with all that President Pan has accomplished, Brother Neo would be enjoying a double digit lead.

That may suggest that the race may indeed turn on race.

[sxp151]

Standard strategy for them is to have the candidate appear to be positive and denounce the negative ads his allies are running.

The problem is not that Obama is being criticized, it's that McCain is personally doing the criticizing, which is tainting him.