McCain: The Wandering Wallflower of Kennebunkport

Reporting from Kennebunkport, Maine, for the New York Times/International Herald Tribune, Elisabeth Bumiller wrote today that John McCain seemed like "the wallflower at an international political dance... campaigning at the quiet summer home of the first President Bush while the worldwide news media spotlight beamed down on Senator Barack Obama in Baghdad."

Asked for comment on the media attention Obama was drawing for his trip, McCain simply said "It is what it is."

But Bumiller writes that she got a less-resigned reaction from McCain's entourage.

McCain's comments were mild compared with the bleak mood and frustration on the part of his advisers, who have taken to referring to Obama sarcastically as "The One" and railing against the large amount of coverage Obama is receiving compared with McCain.

"There is nothing you can do about it," said an acerbic Mark Salter, one of McCain's closest advisers, while standing at the back of a modest crowd assembled to hear McCain speak at a picnic in South Portland, Maine. "'The One' went to Europe, and homage must be paid."

Oprah Winfrey famously referred to Obama as "the one" in December last year, introducing him at an event in Iowa. "I feel compelled to stand up and to speak out for the man who I believe has a new vision for America... I am here to tell you, Iowa, he is the one. He is the one!"

CNN Outtake video from the Kennebunkport event available at MeFeedia conveys the mood yesterday fairly well.

Earnestly hitting his talking points against the gray-sea backdrop and in front of about 15 half-interested media people, McCain seems off, wandering after his brief words here and there on a small area of the Bush Family's tony outpost to the world.

At one point the first President Bush, looking tall and relaxed, volunteers a tour of the grounds to some of the media in attendance. "I think they need to... go cover the senator," someone reminds the president. "They'd rather be here," Bush says joking.

Comments

[Thorn2008]

The thing that truly worries me is that perhaps we aren't really getting a choice in this election at all. Perhaps the Republicans have run McCain because both sides have decided they want Obama to win. Think about it. Is this really all the Republicans have? Is there no youthful Republican in this country with fresh ideas? It Just seems to be too easy. Then if after all this Obama loses every person of color in this country is going to know what they have suspected all along. Nothing could divide us more and the country will be fit to conquer. I say this as an Obama supporter, but then it's only because Ron Paul didn't make it.

[olivia]

Poor man. I'll bet he's sorry he goaded Obama into going overseas.

[marthlois]

The Wandering Wallflower decided to wander around calling Obama a traitor all day - at least
5 times he said "It seems clear that Obama would rather win an election rather than win a war".
Even the CNN analysts are shocked! What a horrid thing to say. He is losing it and is desperate.
But desperate times don't allow Presidential nominees to call opponents traitors because they are
jealous of the coverage that is being afforded to the opponent who he insisted go to Iraq. Your wish
came true Johnny - but your nightmare awaits you I do believe. Lots of luck.

Wallflower McCain ain't no wallflower. He's gaffe-ing all over the place, the networks are covering
up for him, and he's gonna fall from grace very soon.

October surprise then would be???? Will someone be replacing "The Maverick"?

[Krikkit]

Who suspended, but didn't end their campaign? Romney? Anyone else in the wings?

Not that it matters. The Greedy Old Perverts know they will lose this one, and their nominee is nothing more than a sacrifice to that fact. Even McWhatever seems to sense the truth.

[pundit27]

When you're working for The Two of course Obama is The One.

[ramara]

Whatever happened to "We try harder?"

[Triciann]

Maybe the Republicans are going after the sympathy vote. We'll all feel so sorry for McCain and vote for him. Maybe it's a plot to get us to lose focus.

[wildflowermaven]

I noticed the contrast between McCain's speech and clips of Obama's day on last night's Newshour w Jim Lehrer. I thought --that gray background just doesn't project a good image, of course, if McCain had been more compelling, I might not have focused so much on the setting.