McCain Out To Set Self Apart From GOP Field
Americans got a glimpse of a new John McCain this week:
A serious, sometimes even stern, enemy of congressional big spenders, corrupt lawmakers and global terrorists who promises to chase al-Qaida mastermind Osama bin Laden "to the gates of hell."
His message may be starting to pay off in the key early primary states, where McCain so far has concentrated his presidential ambitions. The latest round of April polls from the American Research Group Inc. had McCain leading in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
The winner in those states, which played prominent roles in McCain's announcement tour last week, will gain much-needed momentum going into the cluster of primaries anticipated for Feb. 5.
"John McCain just needs to continue to demonstrate his independence and show that he's something different than typical Washington," said Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., a co-chairman of McCain's Arizona campaign.
"America is fed up with the current leaders in Washington, unhappy with the Congress and unhappy with the current president, and we need somebody who has the courage to call things as they are."
That's just what the Arizona Republican senator did during Thursday's GOP debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., where he displayed an aggressive tone.
That contrasted not only with the generally congenial demeanors of his nine GOP rivals but also with himself, the wisecracking maverick of the 2000 race.
But it also feeds McCain's emerging 2008 campaign image as a tough-minded leader who won't tolerate failure in Iraq, overdependence on foreign oil or Capitol Hill shenanigans.
And it allows him to stress his experience and display some energy, which may help mitigate voter concerns about his age. McCain is 70.
A new chapter
As McCain enters the next phase of his campaign, he still needs to steady a shaky start marked by stagnant national poll ratings and lackluster fundraising.
Terry Nelson, McCain's campaign manager, told The Arizona Republic: "Our strategy is really dictated by three things: Number 1, getting Senator McCain's message out; Number 2, continuing to focus on these early states and the February 5 states; and Number 3, making sure that we raise the dollars necessary to get our message out to voters in these primary states. I feel like we had a very successful month of April."
McCain wrapped up a multistate official announcement tour April 28 in Tempe. Before formerly entering the race, he delivered a series of policy speeches on the Iraq war, economic policy and energy that laid the groundwork for his candidacy.