Conservatives Wonder If Negative Ads Could Reduce McCain's Stature

Over at the Atlantic, Marc Ambinder has an interesting reaction from former McCain strategist John Weaver to the Arizona Republican's new ad attacking Barack Obama's celebrity status (complete with references to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears). Calling it "childish," Weaver also claims that harping on Obama "reduces McCain on the stage."

He's not the only conservative to wonder about that possibility.

Former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum says McCain's latest ad only addresses one type of voter, while perhaps turning off others. "McCain goes into this election with two problems. One is that the Republican base is demoralized and unenthusiastic," Frum said. "The other is that the Republican base is shrunk while the number of independents has grown. The strategic dilemma he faces is to energize his core constituency while swinging the much larger centrist constituency [over to him].

"This ad does a good job of energizing that base, reminding them of things they might not like about Barack Obama," Frum added. "But I wonder whether more offshore drilling is going to be such a big issue with independent voters. And I wonder whether there is not a risk that if McCain's own ads are more consistently negative than Obama's, that he forfeits some of the advantage and stature he's got over Obama."

The Washington Post's Chris Cilizza has more over at The Fix blog. In addition to some who praise McCain's latest ad, he quotes some anonymous Republican sources who criticize the campaign, variously, for taking "one wild swing at Obama after another" and "talking to the press pack, not voters."

Comments

[jhoughton1]

"Conservatives Wonder If Negative Ads Could Reduce McCain's Stature"

Answer: YES!

[applebutter]

I think it's great, and McCain should continue to show the voters what an angry, petty man he really is. It's called "truth in advertising", and so these ads lend some semblance of integrity to his campaign. Consider also that eighty per cent of the population believe that this county is headed in the wrong direction. The more in bed with Bush and Rove McCain is, the less likely he is to be elected. Keep 'em coming, McCain! And media: make sure Rove gets the credit for these ads that he deserves.

[gditty]

These ads are working, they're so outlandish and childish it's generating free air time on pundit talk shows. They are targeting Hillary Clinton voters (no offense) but it worked for her in Ohio, Penn, and West Virginia therefore it's really smart for McCain to try it....

[InspiredByTruth]

Showing britney spears in an attack ad will swing hillary voters? Are you trying to be funny?

[Mayoyo]

What stature???
He is OLD...enough said.

[Heavy]

Any lower and he would be underground

[BobsNotWorking]

Frum: "But I wonder whether more offshore drilling is going to be such a big issue with independent voters. And I wonder whether there is not a risk that if McCain's own ads are more consistently negative than Obama's, that he forfeits some of the advantage and stature he's got over Obama."

Advantage and stature over Obama? What is Frum smoking?

[marc1antony]

the hiltons will be asking for their 4600 back and brit is a re thug that hearts dubya, so is most certainly gonna be hearting mac seenile

[Xenopus]

Isn't this arrogant, uppity, foreign looking stuff the same thing the Republicans threw out there against John Kerry? It sounds exactly in the same vein to me - worked once, let's try again strategy. I guess what McCain is saying is Obama is an arrogant, popular, but intellectually empty black man. Very shallow. Any upstanding Republican should be very ashamed of the campaign that McCain is running. I am certainly pleased he promised a negative-free campaign, imagine if he went the other way. Does he know what negative means?

[bryansmith]

its kind of funny, the Republicans nominated the only candidate who had a chance. And that was because he was percieved as a Maverick (I guess appearing periodically on the Daily Show earns maverick status).

Then they stupidly instructed McCain to shift right AFTER HE WON THE NOMINATION! Ooops! Now he has all the creditability of the local homeless guy that always asks me for gas money, as if he has a car and runs out of gas every day (or maybe he just ran out months ago and was forced to stay because no one would hook him up, hmm).

My favorite term for McCain is "adopt-a-con," as in, adopt a conservative postition and persona you did not hold before.

[DasBoot]

Before I get angry I have to remind myself: these ads are signs of desperation, so it's good to see them.

The McCain campaign is hanging in the ropes before campaign season has really started. Good.

[Drumbeato]

The reason McCain and company have reduced themselves to attacking Obama in the lamest of ways is because that is all they got. They can't attack Obama with truthful consideration, so they are left to make things up. Also, they can't talk about their record of achievement because it is a record of dismal failure. They can't talk about their vision to lead America into the 21st century, because they have no vision other than to protect the status quo and hold onto what little power they have left. This tactic might have worked in 2000 & 2004, but like Chicken Little & the boy who cried wolf, it only works so many times before people realize they have been lied to and manipulated. Some will be swayed, but those are people that will never vote for Obama anyway. The rest, faced with mounting debt, job uncertainty, home forclosure, trouble feeding their families because of rising food costs, gas cost out of control, lack of healthcare, the war in Iraq, etc are awake and aware. They will not be so quick to be manipulated by Rovian tactics this time around. Most folks don't care what McCain & company have to say about Obama. All they want from McCain is what he he going to do for them if he is elected as President. Until McCain drops this negative attack profile of Obama, until he begins to speak clearly and to the point about issues facing us today, he will not

[LemonFreshScent]

shhhh! We didn't want him to figure that out!!!

[mistlesuede]

Yes, I think he should keep up the juvenile attacks and commercials. Senator Obama just keeps looking better and better!!

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

Hello hello John you have become a little man. Not in size, but a little man because you are trying to take a man down that you are not worthy to do. Obama is all the things you are not. The most important thing Obama shows besides confidence is he wants to talk about the issues and he is calm. That is the most important thing in a president.

[TNT2008]

No joke......I was hoping he'd find out on election day too! I'm with you.....stop giving away secrets! LOL!

0 2008

[southernartist]

As the days tick by, McCain seems more and more like a desperate, angry man, willing to say anything to buy a bit of airtime and attention. Pathetic.

[marc1antony]

M c C A I N~T H E ~ R E F O R M E R~ R E F O R M E D ~ H I S ~ 2 0 0 0 ~ T O ~ M A T C H ~ R O V E *s ~ B E S T S E L L I N G ~ B O O K ~ O F ~ E V I L ~ P L A Y S ~ R E V I S E D 2008

[poco767b]

If this reduces his stature, by the end of the campaign you will need an electron scanning microscope to see McCain.