The Summer Times of John McCain

The summer does not love John McCain. The humidity seems to descend like a warm cloud on his campaign, locking in the ill humors and dreadful political vapors. Last summer, he was a mere ghost hanging around the Republican field. This summer...well, he's a mere ghost hanging around the fast-moving presidential heels of Barack Obama.

As the Democrat conducts facsimile diplomacy that seems so damned close to the real thing, McCain talks about "the situation on the Iraq/Pakistan border."

While Obama cuts the cards on troop withdrawal with Prime Minister Maliki in Iraq and projects increased American strength in undernourished Afghanistan, McCain hunkers down with a vice-presidential pick that seems to be narrowing to Mitt Romney.

But no humiliation comes close to the rejection The New York Times op-ed page laid on the GOP nominee. Attempting to respond to Senator Obama's piece on Iraq, McCain weighed in with his own column, figuring the NYT would naturally want the opposing viewpoint.

Not so fast.

Op-ed editor David Shipley rejected McCain's response, wishing aloud for a version that "mirrors Senator Obama's piece." And then, oh the recognizable ignominy for those among us who have ever flashed a pen in the vain hope of publication: "I'd be pleased, though, to look at another draft."

The horror. McCain's not good enough at rattling the old prose around to appear on the NYT's op-ed page...when he's the nominee of the Republican Party...for President...and is responding to an opponent's piece that clearly attacks his own policy positions. Oh my.

And this a page that actually publishes Maureen Dowd, for heck's sake. Twice a week.

McCain's is a campaign that appears as viable over the long-term as John Belushi, circa 1979. It's almost enough to make you feel some sympathy for the old warrior. Then you remember that whole "future of the republic thing," and you hope this long, hot summer of McCain's discontent continues until the winds blow and the leaves fall from the trees around the nation's polling places.

Comments

[Tom K]

Sounds like the problem in the Op-Ed situation is the Times's, not McCain's. I'll give Mac one thing -- at least he seems (in contrast to his presumptive adversary) seems to consistently appreciate the difference between being, and running for, president.

[Susie]

Yes, even David Gergen was moved to comment on the inappropriateness of Obama’s chat with Maliki. He’s not President yet.

The NYT thing doesn’t necessarily hurt McCain and might help him in some quarters.

McCain is in a decent position right now. The election is still Obama’s to lose, but in spite of the McCain campaign’s many problems, he is still within striking distance. Considering what a banner year this is supposed to be for the Democrats, and all the other factors in Obama’s favor, things could be a lot worse for the GOP, at least as far as the White House race is concerned.

If Romney had somehow managed to wangle the nomination, they might even be ahead.

[JB64]

The surreal part about this campaign is that they are still within striking distance. If you read only left-leaning blogs you'd assume that McCain daily digs his hole deeper, and yet, the numbers remain unchanged. Could it be that this mumbling, stumbling, caricature of a Presidential candidate is on to something?

Let's face it, Obama is flying around in the rarefied air of media love, and that's not going to change anytime before the convention. So why not contrast all of that mega-watt coverage of Obama by appearing uncharismatic, and frankly, unrehearsed. If the election is about Obama, then it hinges on his credibility, and substance. The best way to undercut that is to look an amateur, a candidate unconcerned about image control, authentic if you will. I think it resonates more than some would like to admit.

[JB64]

The surreal part about this campaign is that they are still within striking distance. If you read only left-leaning blogs you'd assume that McCain daily digs his hole deeper, and yet, the numbers remain unchanged. Could it be that this mumbling, stumbling, caricature of a Presidential candidate is on to something?

Let's face it, Obama is flying around in the rarefied air of media love, and that's not going to change anytime before the convention. So why not contrast all of that mega-watt coverage of Obama by appearing uncharismatic, and frankly, unrehearsed. If the election is about Obama, then it hinges on his credibility, and substance. The best way to undercut that is to look an amateur, a candidate unconcerned about image control, authentic if you will. I think it resonates more than some would like to admit.

[Judith]

either that or people will go...John who?