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February 06, 2008
How Does McCain Unite the Party?
Bryan at Hot Air says it starts at CPAC. He's right. When Senator McCain goes before CPAC tomorrow, it isn't as the Maverick, or the Senator from Arizona or even one of three presidential candidates. Tomorrow, he's the presumptive nominee, the party-leader in waiting.
His words tomorrow are going to be analyzed, parsed and scrutinized by pundits, bloggers and nervous Republicans all over the country. What McCain says tomorrow may mean the difference between holding the nose voting and enthusiastic support for many conservative activists. It's his second chance to make a first impression.
But no pressure.
If I were McCain, I'd tackle the elephant in the room right away and acknowledge the discomfort many conservatives feel at the prospect of his candidacy, and the fact that he has not always seen eye-to-eye with the Republican rank and file, and that on some issues, there is substantive disagreement. Don't minimize the concerns of conservatives.
At this point, he should then outline what motivates him and why he's a Republican. Accentuate what he has in common with the base and while not over-promising, reassure them that he will do his best to understand their concerns, starting today.
Then, he should just answer questions for as long as people want to ask them, or as long as he was scheduled to speak. Simply connecting with conservatives and answering their questions will go a long way toward mending relationships with those at CPAC, provided he answers them truthfully and with good humor while avoiding defensiveness.
Posted by slublog at February 6, 2008 07:43 PM
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Comments
I predict that he won't make major concessions to the far right. On the other hand, I also predict that if he makes any conciliatory noises at all, it will be hailed as goodenoughsoshutupandgetonboardalready.
Posted by: S. Weasel at February 7, 2008 11:09 AM
"The fact that he has not always seen eye-to-eye with the Republican rank and file" is quite the euphemism for "tried to switch sides when the GOP had only 1-vote advantage in the Senate." I'm sorry, I just don't see how anyone who would even think of doing that should be the representative of the party as a whole.
Posted by: MainiacJoe at February 7, 2008 11:34 AM
I haven't watched it yet, but it sounds like I'm half wrong. Apparently he made a good speech.
But I've made a comfy spot on this fence and I'm not coming off'n it yet.
Posted by: S. Weasel at February 7, 2008 07:52 PM