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McCain Campaign Manager In '04: "Nothing Is More Discomforting Than a Smear Campaign"

Rick Davis went on to urge the 2004 presidential nominees "to publicly order their supporters not to go there," as that was "[t]he only way to stop the expected mud-slinging."
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Senior Writer, Campaign for America's Future

Senior Writer, Campaign for America's Future
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In 2004, long-time McCain campaign manager Rick Davis penned an op-ed for the Boston Globe, lamenting and lambasting the use of smears to win presidential campaigns.

The essay titled, "Anatomy of a Smear Campaign," detailed how Sen. John McCain suffered from smears when running against then-Gov. George W. Bush in the 2000 South Carolina primary, and made the following observations:

-- "Every presidential campaign has its share of hard-ball political tactics, but nothing is more discomforting than a smear campaign."

-- "It's not necessary, however, for a smear to be true to be effective."

-- "Rebutting tawdry attacks focuses public attention on them, and prevents the campaign from talking issues."

Davis went on to urge the 2004 presidential nominees "to publicly order their supporters not to go there," as that was "[t]he only way to stop the expected mud-slinging."

More on the change of heart from McCain and Davis over at LiberalOasis.

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