NH for McCain

PETITION ON IRAQ FUNDING BILL

2007-03-29T16:46:00.000-04:00

John McCain’s campaign website has launched a petition regarding the actions of the U.S. Senate on the Iraq funding bill setting a withdrawal date. If you believe that setting a date will have dire consequences, sign the petition to send a message to Reid and Pelosi.

MCCAIN HAS SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN TRIP TO NH

2007-03-19T16:36:00.000-04:00

Last weekend McCain’s Straight talk Express made a trip to NH. All signs point to a very successful trip including Milford’s Saturday morning event at the end of a snow storm. More details of some of the Senator’s stops can be found on the McCain website and Patrick Hynes’ blog.

I had the pleasure of attending the house party in Bow on Saturday night. It was great to personally meet the Senator again. My last meeting with him was in 2000. My initial reaction was very positive as the Senator looked great. Much better than some of his TV appearances.

McCain personally met with everyone present and introduced his wife. He was very personable and in my case he somehow came around to me a second time and remembered that he had already said hi. So he was paying attention. After meeting everyone the Senator made a brief statement with the war, homeland security and illegal immigration highlighted. He also pointed out his experience and that he “did not need any on-the-job training”. After his talk he took questions on the war, education and veterans issues. I asked the education question pointing out that in 2000 McCain stated that good teachers needed to be paid better, but that we also needed to recognize that some teachers needed to make a career change. In 2000 he had also stated that we needed to raise the bar to better challenge our students and that we couldn’t keep lowering the bar to make everyone feel good. I asked the Senator if he still felt the same way. Not only did he agree with those statements from back in 2000 but stated it is even more important today pointing out that many technology executives are telling him that we only have a ten to fifteen year advantage over India and China in some technologies.

Overall, I continue to be impressed with his overall experience and leadership and his willingness to search for common ground to bring people together. And while I don’t always agree with every position McCain takes, I still believe he is the man this country needs at this time. I urge everyone to get out and meet the Senator as I am sure you will walk away with a better understanding of his candidacy.

STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS IS BACK

2007-03-16T19:14:00.000-04:00

The race has begun and John McCain's campaign is back. His new Straight Talk Express is in action and he is being greeted with enthusiastic crowds. This weekend, McCain is in New Hampshire with town hall meetings in Milford and Lebanon on Saturday, and Exeter on Sunday. I encourage you to attend one of these sessions. I know you will walk away knowing that this man is the one.

Weather permitting; I will be attending a house gathering for McCain this weekend. I am enthusiastic to meet him again and will share my thoughts with you after the visit.

Check out the action and John’s weekend plans at the STE website.

MCCAIN STRONG IN NEW POLL

2007-03-11T15:08:00.000-04:00

The American Research Group published a new poll on the presidential race. While I will be the first to agree that it is too early for polls to tell you a lot, they are still of interest. However, this morning on Meet The Press they quoted a poll that showed 73% of the electorate is ‘actively’ watching the presidential primary process. I was really surprised by that so maybe this year early polls may be more important than in the past.

In any case, Senator McCain continues to be in a strong position. On a national level, the poll shows Giuliani at 34% and McCain at 30% among republican contenders. This is within the 4% margin of error and is a bit closer than other polls that have been published recently. But this poll also looked at some important primary states and shows McCain ahead in NH, FL, MI and SC, with Giuliani in second place.

McCain is taking heat with his support of the Iraq war so anything can happen depending on what happens on the ground there. But McCain’s experience and record and some early wins in these primaries would go a long way toward making him the republican nominee.

PICKERING SUPPORTS MCCAIN AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF

2007-02-28T13:46:00.000-05:00

ABC News online had an excellent op-ed piece by Rep. Chip Pickering of Mississippi on why John McCain should be the next commander in chief. Pickering, a strong conservative, supports McCain’s election efforts. The article was an excellent summary of why McCain should be our next President, and not just to lead our military.

Most people agree with McCain’s qualifications to be commander in chief. Pickering’s article covered more than just John’s military qualifications. One example of interest that the article points out was that it was McCain’s ability to broker the “Gang of 14” compromise, something that a lot of conservatives criticize John on, that allowed Congress to start approving federal district and appeals court nominations. Chip correctly pointed out that this compromise “paved the way for the approval of John Roberts and Sam Alito to the Supreme Court” and that “without McCain's leadership in the Senate, we could easily have seen the Democrats filibuster these two nominees and might not have their conservative intellect and strict constructionism on the court today.” This is a great reason why people need to go beyond a specific action (Gang of 14 compromise) and take a broader view of why a good leader will compromise to achieve a broader objective.

I recommend this op-ed piece as an excellent summary on why conservatives should support McCain’s candidacy for the republican nomination in 2008.

NEW UNH POLL

2007-02-20T11:37:00.000-05:00

A recent University of New Hampshire poll for WMUR-TV in Manchester leads with the fact that Giuliani's net favorability rating was 56 percent versus McCain’s 32 percent. Romney was in third at 26 percent. This somewhat surprised me given earlier polls that showed McCain and Giuliani much closer. Then I noticed the followup statement that said for likely primary voters McCain and Giuliani were tied at about 27 percent, followed by Romney at 13 percent and Gingrich at 9 percent.

The article justifies the lead with the favorability factor in that this far in advance of an election the professionals look at that versus who the person would likely vote for. That may be the case in the past but Giuliani has not even declared. When he does, his more liberal social views would likely impact his ability to capture conservative republican primary voters.

How Conservative a Republican Nominee?

2007-01-30T16:25:00.000-05:00

It is interesting to see this early in the primary process how critical the issue of a candidate’s conservatism will factor into the eventual Republican nominee. We know from history that the Republican nominee has to be a conservative. But have times changed as to the degree of conservativeness needed to win the nomination?

By most polls, the top three Republican hopefuls are John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney. A recent posting on the Race 4 2008 site is an example of these three candidates as the top three contenders, with Newt following in fourth place. So how conservative are the top three candidates?

McCain continues to be hit by the far right about his failure to strictly adhere to true conservative values. Giuliani may be a fiscal conservative but clearly his social values have to be called moderate at best. Clearly anyone would have to admit McCain is more conservative than Rudy. Then there is Mitt. Mitt continues to position himself as the true conservative but continues to get caught between his rhetoric and record. Whether that is the issue of bi-lingual education, or his tendency to flip-flop on issues that matter to conservatives.

Senator McCain’s primary criticism has been that he is not a true conservative. I for one believe he is and that his willingness to solve problems by reaching across the aisle should not be interpreted as his non-belief in conservative values. Rather, his willingness to compromise should be viewed as his political strength in the upcoming election. It is clear to me that the polls show that the people want someone who can solve problems and unite the country. Why else would Giuliani be running so high among the Republican candidates? McCain is the one candidate that has demonstrated his consistent conservative beliefs while being able to reach across the aisle and solve problems.

Lyons to Head McCain’s NH Exploratory Committee

2007-01-28T12:25:00.000-05:00

Foster’s Daily Democrat (NH) published an article that Portsmouth Attorney John Lyons will be the leader of Sen. McCain's presidential exploratory committee in New Hampshire along with a position on McCain’s national education advisory council. Lyons has experience on the Portsmouth School Board and the NH State Board of Education.

In the article, Lyons uses the term “common sense conservatism" to describe McCain. A common thread and one this country needs to bring us together.

Governor Huntsman of Utah in Granite State for McCain

2007-01-26T16:30:00.000-05:00

Governor Huntsman of Utah, a prominent McCain supporter, is in the Granite State this weekend representing McCain at several events. I had the opportunity to do an email interview with the Governor about his visit. I thank the Governor for his willingness to share his thoughts which I post below.

QUESTION: Mr. Governor, we are very proud of our White Mountains, but you live and work in the Rockies. Don't tell us you're here in New Hampshire to go skiing or sightseeing. Why the trip to the Granite State?
RESPONSE: Utah certainly is a land rich in beauty as is New Hampshire. I’m afraid I won’t be able to hit the slopes during my short visit here. My efforts this weekend are focused solely on representing Senator John McCain at a variety of events. I am looking forward to speaking with many people from New Hampshire about Senator McCain’s views and values.

QUESTION: Well, obviously we are thrilled to have you here and we're honored that you are part of the McCain team. What attracted you to Sen. McCain and his prospective candidacy for president?
RESPONSE: Senator McCain embodies many of the leadership and character traits America needs to help direct us in both domestic and international efforts. He is a strong world leader who has a vision for what this country has the potential to become in the years ahead.

QUESTION: And so your role on the exploratory committee is to gauge peoples' reactions to the idea of a McCain candidacy? What's the response been like?
RESPONSE: The responses have been very positive. Senator McCain is a war hero who is widely recognized for his service and sacrifice to the nation. In many ways, Senator McCain has given more in the way of service to this country than most others who have occupied leadership positions in our nation’s recent history. People respect and admire his selfless service to causes larger than simply one’s own.

QUESTION: What is the substance of the message you are delivering to Granite Staters this weekend?
RESPONSE: My message is simple: Senator McCain should join the 2008 presidential race. In Ronald Reagan fashion, he has the values and international leadership to put the pieces of this nation back together while strengthening our world-wide alliances.

QUESTION: Some have said that there is a void on the conservative wing of the party. But I look at Sen. McCain record and I see a guy who has been a consistent Reagan conservative from day one. Have conservatives been responding well to the exploratory effort?
RESPONSE: Conservatives have responded very positively. Senator McCain has long been a strong conservative especially in regards to fiscal issues. He has constantly opposed earmarks and been a proponent for a balanced budget.

QUESTION: John McCain is a Senator. But he really seems to resonate with people outside the beltway. Governors like you and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota have chose to serve as leaders of his committee. Is McCain unusual in the sense that he's an anti-Washington figure, even though he's in the senate?
RESPONSE: Senator McCain has always been able to express the will of the people. He has an exceptional ability to bridge the divide by reaching across the aisle to build bi-partisan consensus on issues that matter most.

QUESTION: There was some discussion a few weeks back that Utah might make a play to hold its primary earlier, closer to New Hampshire's. Has that gone anywhere?
RESPONSE: The West will play a significant role in the 2008 presidential election. Subsequently, there will be a Utah primary, in conjunction with other primaries held throughout the Intermountain West. Right now, Utah’s primary is scheduled for February 5, 2008.

Gov. Jon Huntsman, Thank you so much for answering our questions.

McCain, the New Media and the Far Right

2007-01-24T10:22:00.000-05:00

John McCain continues to get hit by the far right as not being a true conservative and by those into the ‘new media’ as not being up to the times. Patrick Hynes responded to the ‘new media’ concern very well in a posting on Townhall.com. Patrick does a good job detailing how McCain in fact is taking advantage of the new media and I suspect will continue to do as the campaign rolls into high gear.

While you are looking at Patrick’s posting, take a look at some of the comments. They scare me to death! After listening to the democratic response to President Bush’s State of the Union address last night, the last thing the Republican Party needs is a far right candidate to go against Hillary. Anyone who would rather see Hillary as President along with a democratic congress over John McCain is clearly an ideologue and not concerned about fixing the problems in this country. I have stated from my very first posting that I like John because he is a conservative and that “his integrity, honesty, and willingness to listen, coupled with his experience and realistic approach to problem solving” is what this country needs. McCain’s recent statement that he would rather lose an election than lose a war is a perfect example of his integrity and commitment to beliefs. It is unfortunate that some members of our party fail to see the benefit of compromise for the betterment of our country.

McCain Picks Up More Endorsements

2007-01-18T09:23:00.000-05:00

As we get closer to the official campaign season, Senator McCain has been actively picking up some very important endorsements. The Washington Post reports that McCain has picked up the endorsement of South Carolina’s House Speaker Bobby Harrell. South Carolina will be an important state primary and one that Mitt Romney has been active in.

In addition, The Business Journal of Phoenix is reporting that McCain has picked up a number of high profile business people that will most assuredly help in the fund raising efforts. That same article mentions that Mc Cain announced that Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, vice chairman of the National Governors Association, will serve as a national co-chair for his 2008 presidential run.

Romney Hit Again for Flip-flop on Gun Ownership

2007-01-15T16:01:00.000-05:00

In an article published on the UnionLeader.com, the Associated Press hit Romney again for discrepancies between his current campaign rhetoric and prior statements. This time it is the issue of gun control and the NRA. While touring a Florida gun show, Romney is quoted to have said he supported "the right of individuals to keep and bear arms as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution". The article then goes on to point out prior statements and actions made that in fact restricts gun ownership with gun control laws. Seems every statement Mitt is making is getting torn apart by flip-flopping prior statements and actions.

McCain Gets Credit for His Authenticity

2007-01-06T15:30:00.000-05:00

While Romney is getting hammered for his changing positions, Senator McCain continues to get positive comments about his authenticity. A recent posting by Ari Richter on the Primary Monitor Blog points this fact out. His comments about a Vanity Fair profile of McCain hits it right on the head. Whether you agree with John or not, you at least know where McCain stands. Isn’t this what we need in a President? I think this attribute will bode well for McCain in the primaries.

Mitt’s No New Tax Pledge Flip Flop

2007-01-06T15:10:00.000-05:00

It’s been awhile since I last posted due to the holidays. Now that they are past and the candidate announcements begin, I look forward to lots of tidbits to share with you.

Today we see Mitt Romney is back in the news. Now that Mitt Romney is no longer Governor and clearly planning to run, the fun will start as we see him attempt to re-engineer himself to be more acceptable to conservatives. Recently Mitt took a no new taxes pledge. Interesting he did not take one while Governor. He is taking heat for the flip-flop. Two articles worth reading are Scott Helman of the Boston Globe and David Brody of CBN News. In Brody’s article he quotes Dr. Jerry Zandstra, President of the Pro-Life Federation of Michigan, as saying if this was his only flip flop Mitt could position it as seeing the way. Unfortunately Zandstra points out that it won’t be his only change of heart.

I’d love to debate Mitt and call him on these flip flops. But it will be just as much fun when he gets called on the campaign trail.

Why Support John McCain Over Mitt Romney?

2006-12-15T11:07:00.000-05:00

Liz Mair wrote a very interesting article on GOPProgress.com about why she likes John McCain. She was responding to a question she received as to how she could like John McCain and not like Mitt Romney. I think she did a good job in documenting her position in this article.

In her article Liz discusses why she supported McCain in 2000 and why she still likes him today. It was interesting to follow how her reasons have changed a bit since 2000. Not only does Liz make some very good and well documented reasons for supporting John McCain, but she also does a great job in clearly articulating the differences from a conservative view between John McCain’s conservative principles and record and those of Mitt Romney’s.

The article is a bit long, but it is well worth a read.

Obama Draft Ad to Air in NH

2006-12-14T16:09:00.000-05:00

While most of my attention is now focused on the republican nomination for president in 2008, I of course like to keep an eye on the other side of the aisle’s process as well. For many people, Hilary was the odds on favorite to capture the nomination. Personally, I think she would be easier to beat than others. She will have to move to the left to win the nomination which will impact her ability to win more moderate voters. However, recent events are having some revisit those odds.

Following an announcement in the Union Leader that a draft Obama group will air a television ad in NH, John Distaso’s column in the UnionLeader.com has followed that with the interesting question about how Hilary tops the Obama coming out party in NH last week. Personally, Obama looks like on OK guy. Young, energetic, and articulate. But where’s the beef? I don’t see it. Can anyone clearly articulate his qualifications? Do stints as president of the Harvard Law Review, a state senator, and two years as a U. S. Senator give someone the needed experience to be president? I don’t think so. Where is his leadership experience? Where is his executive and operational management experience? Where is his diplomatic experience? Does he have any military experience? None that I can see. At lease governors have most of the experience needed to be president. Even the last serious draft driven candidate, Wesley Clark, had proven military, executive and operational management, diplomatic and leadership experience.

It will be interesting to see what impact, if any, Obama has on the democratic field. Even more interesting will be to see how Hilary fares in an expected crowded and tough field.

McCain Picks Up Endorsement of Massachusetts College Republican Leaders

2006-12-11T11:29:00.000-05:00

John McCain picked up an interesting endorsement right in Mitt Romney’s backyard. Several leaders of Massachusetts conservative college republican groups came out and endorsed Senator McCain for his “authenticity and straight talk.” The press release urges McCain to run for President and commits to forming a youth advisory committee to support his candidacy.

The timing of this endorsement was very interesting. A lot has been written lately about Mitt’s inability to move up in the polls and now we see college republican leaders from his own state endorsing Senator McCain. The NY Times coverage of Mitt’s Gay Rights statement during his failed senate bid where he stated “We must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern” has now created a challenge for Mitt in how to rationalize that statement with his current campaign statements.

A second interesting aspect of the timing of this endorsement is that Illinois Senator Barack Obama received a lot of press from his first visit to NH this weekend and drew a lot of college age students to his events. Having young republicans support his candidacy can help McCain demonstrate his ability to draw support not only from both conservatives and moderates, but the young as well.

I hope the Senator is listening and accepts the call to run.

I don’t have a URL for the release so I am reprinting the full text of the release below.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Michael Miltenberger
(617)-417-8868
chair@macr.org

Massachusetts College Republican Leaders Endorses McCain for President

Boston, MA – Today state leaders from across Massachusetts including the Chairman of the Massachusetts Alliance of College Republicans endorsed Arizona Senator John McCain as their candidate for the next President of the United States.

“Conservative College Republicans in Massachusetts appreciate Senator McCain’s authenticity and straight talk and urge him to run for President,” said Michael Miltenberger, Chairman of the Massachusetts Alliance of College Republicans. “We look forward to building a strong youth organization for him in Massachusetts and helping in neighboring states and across the country.”

They released the following statement that represents their respective opinions and not necessarily the opinion of the organizations in which they belong.

As leaders in the conservative youth movement, College Republicans across Massachusetts urge Senator McCain to finalize his run for the presidency and pledge their support to his election effort. We are forming a Youth Advisory Committee to help organize youth activists across the state to fight for Senator McCain’s election as the next President of the United States.

Signed,

Michael R. Miltenberger
Chairman, Massachusetts Alliance of College Republicans
Chairman, Northeast Caucus
Harvard University

Michael Sinacore
Political Director, Boston College
Executive Director, MACR

Brian Gwozdz
Vice President, UMass Amherst
Executive Vice Chairman, MACR

Amanda Short
President, Boston College
Secretary, MACR

Steve Johnston
Vice President, Harvard University

Matt Smith
Former President, Westfield State
Former Chief of Staff, MACR

Brittany Kademian
Secretary, Boston College

Tracy Danner
Publicity Director, Boston College

Kelly Smith
Vice President, Emmanuel College

Kevin Aldred
President, Westfield State

Michaela LeBlanc
Executive Director, Smith College

Benjamin Brookman
Treasurer, Northeastern College

Briana Gutfinksi
Vice President, Mount Holyoke

##

McCain Continues to Build Campaign Team

2006-12-07T18:53:00.000-05:00

Chris Cillizza at The Fix is reporting that Senator McCain has added some more big named talent to his still unannounced presidential campaign team. Chris reports that former President Bush national political director Terry Nelson will serve as campaign manager, and Republican National Committee Communications Director Brian Jones has committed to lead the press effort.

McCain on the Iraq Study Report

2006-12-07T18:25:00.000-05:00

Senator McCain issued a statement on the Iraq Study Group. You should read it. While supportive of their effort, he addresses his concerns with the recommendations around the roles of Arab-Israeli peace and the regional conference with Iran and Syria. He also questions setting a date for withdrawal by positioning their recommended troop buildup as ‘short-term’. All of his concerns are legitimate ones as McCain continues to look for realistic solutions to problems rather than what might be politically expedient.

McCain Stands By Principles on Iraq

2006-12-07T12:49:00.000-05:00

The Iraq report is out and no surprise, winning is not an option. What’s most amazing to me is that there are apparently intelligent people who actually think we can talk (negotiate) with the president of Iran. What don’t they get? What don’t they see? Do they not understand that Iran can’t be trusted? Do they not see that Iran wishes us harm?

In anticipation of the report, McCain stood tall for his convictions and principles. Larry Kudlow’s article covering John’s comments does a great job in summarizing my opinions previously expressed about the Senator. McCain’s concept of you win or lose wars is right on! His belief that you don’t compromise for national security is right on! The concept of you kill them before they kill you is right on! The concept that you stand on principle despite national polls is right on!

On this issue I agree with McCain. But whether you agree with him or not, you must admire the man for his courage and leadership, and his willingness to stand by what he thinks is right. All of these characteristics are much needed for someone to lead this country and bring people together. McCain continues to stand above the rest.

McCain Courts Republican Governors

2006-12-04T10:39:00.000-05:00

Last week Senator McCain made an early campaign stop at the Republican Governors Conference in FL. The NY Times reported that McCain spent time meeting and courting nine republican governors and held a reception. The interesting angle taken by the article was whether McCain was “invading Mr. Romney’s territory”. According to the article, Mitt is likely trying to use the governors conference as the springboard to his campaign just like President Bush did in 2000, and John’s visit complicated the issue. I think it is great. McCain built up a lot of capital campaigning across the country for other republicans, so no one should think that his visit is intruding on Mitt’s turf.

Patrick Hynes, on his website, points out that “some Republican Governors have already stated publicly that they will support McCain if he decides to run in 2008, including Jon Huntsman of Utah, Mitch Daniels of Indiana, and, according to one source, Haley Barbour of Mississippi.” Mitt should not assume that he can count on the same level of endorsements that Bush received in 2000.

Romney Team Clarifies Falwell Endorsement Comment

2006-12-01T13:33:00.000-05:00

This past Thursday, Laura Hipp of the Jackson, MS Clarion-Ledger, wrote an article that attributed Romney to making a statement that he had the endorsement of the Rev. Jerry Falwell. Laura’s article stated: “Romney said he has the support of leaders like the Rev. Jerry Falwell.” Mitt was in Mississippi courting the evangelical vote for his possible presidential run. It was really a very small statement hidden in the middle of her article.

Small maybe, but picked up by the media and Falwell. The following day, Scott Helman of the Boston Globe quickly reported that Falwell “immediately distanced himself from the remark” saying that he had not endorsed any candidate at this time. The article quotes Romney's spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, with the following clarification: "What he said was that Jerry Falwell has said in the past that he could support a candidate of a different faith if that person agreed with him on moral and social issues."

This explanation was apparently confirmed. So what is the issue? One can question whether Romney’s record is agreeable to Farwell’s moral and social issues. Prior pro-abortion and pro gay statements certainly are not issues that Falwell would agree. So Mitt can clearly be accused of stretching Farwell’s willingness to support him.

I think the real issue is that everyone knows that Romney is not a real conservative. The media knows this, especially the Boston media. And conservative groups know this. The harder Mitt tries to prove himself a true conservative, the more true conservative groups will actively point out his record. There will be a concerted effort to paint Romney as he is, before Mitt has the chance to paint himself as a true conservative.

All this makes me question just how successful Romney can be in running as a true conservative. It will be interesting to see if he can successfully run away from his record.

Romney Is A Liberal?

2006-12-01T11:47:00.000-05:00

As you know, I have been questioning Mitt’s conservative principles. I thought you all might get a chuckle at a website that tracks Romney’s stand on abortion, gun control, and other typically conservative proof point issues. Check it out.

Romney Positioning Himself for the Right Wing

2006-11-24T14:11:00.000-05:00

A recent article by Bill Sammon of The Examiner discusses Mitt Romney’s positioning with John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. Mitt is quoted as saying “I’m a conservative Republican, there’s no question about that. I’m at a different place than the other two.”

It is clear that Romney’s strategy is to play to the right wing conservative base of the Republican Party and run to the right of both McCain and Giuliani. That’s not necessarily bad as we have seen that both parties tend to nominate candidates that position themselves towards the left or right of their party. The question is: will the recent election results change that history? I think it is clear the electorate is fed up with extremists on both sides. They are yearning for a more moderate candidate that understands their issues and concerns and can work to bring both sides together to solve problems. So a strategy to pander to the right wing of the party might not be a sure thing after what we saw in the mid-term elections.

So if this is Romney’s strategy, why is he having trouble being accepted as that conservative as I mentioned in my post of November 21? Maybe voters are basing opinions on principles and not campaign rhetoric?

Front Runner McCain Challenged on Abortion Issue

2006-11-22T07:25:00.000-05:00

As one would expect, abortion is and will continually be a dividing issue in any presidential election. Recently, several comments have been made questioning McCain’s position on abortion. It’s understandable that the right wing of the republican party would bring this issue to the forefront. After all, a common sense conservative is leading in the polls, a.k.a. a more moderate than they might like to see.

Patrick Hynes does a good job in summarizing the Senator’s position when he states “Let’s be clear: John McCain is pro-life and supports the overturn of Roe v. Wade. This has been his position throughout his career in politics and he has a twenty-four year voting record to back it up.”

An even better position statement can be found in RedState where the author states that “abortion polls show a pretty consistent national picture. 25% of the country supports ending abortion in all cases except the life of the mother. About 30% support the current regime of abortion-on-demand without restriction. The other 45% or so generally support major restrictions usually defined as legal abortion in cases or rape, incest, and threats to the life of the mother. That moderate position is where Sen. McCain lies.”

In fact, McCain does support the overturn of Roe v. Wade and supports the more moderate approach of abortions with major restrictions. As a federalist, McCain strongly believes that this decision should be turned over to the states to decide, rather than having the courts make law.

McCain Gains in Recent Poll

2006-11-21T19:47:00.000-05:00

According to a recent poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, John McCain is the most popular Republican Party presidential contender. McCain had 29 per cent of respondents saying they would like to McCain nominated in the 2008 election, up 3 per cent from their August poll.

I suspect that McCain did himself well during the final days of the campaign while he was campaigning for fellow republicans. I’m sure his call for common sense conservatism is also winning him favor among the electorate.

Romney Is Having Troubles Flying the Conservative Flag

2006-11-21T14:20:00.000-05:00

Back on September 9 th I questioned Romney’s movement towards a more conservative stand after his proven track record to the contrary. I guess I am not the only one.

A posting on Politics Central points out that Mitt received a less than enthusiastic greeting at a recent American Spectator event. While Rumsfeld was enthusiastically received, it appears that Romney gave a speech that was “a waterfall of platitudes, seemingly ripped from the pages of a 1964 edition of Reader’s Digest”. They quote attendees that were not pleased with his speech.

The author follows with a conversation with National Review’s Kathryn Jean Lopez, who has been a strong Romney booster. She is quoted as saying “that Republicans should keep their options open for 2008”. So it looks like Romney is having difficulty in convincing people of his conservative principles. I wonder why?

McCain Positions Himself as the Common Sense Conservative

2006-11-20T10:01:00.000-05:00

Last week Senator McCain gave two speeches that I believe put him at the forefront of the conservative approach to win back congress and keep the White House. Both speeches talk about the need for conservative leadership in this country, but leadership that uses common sense in its practice.

At the Federalist Society function last Thursday, McCain spoke about the mid-term elections and the need for a limited government and the importance of law. His position is that the voters did not vote for the democratic platform (if there was one), but rather they voted to send a clear message to the republican congress. McCain stated “Nor do I believe Americans rejected our values and governing philosophy. On the contrary, I think they rejected us because they felt we had come to value our incumbency over our principles, and partisanship, from both parties, was no longer a contest of ideas, but an ever cruder and uncivil brawl over the spoils of power. I am convinced that a majority of Americans still consider themselves conservatives or right of center. They still prefer common sense conservatism to the alternative. Americans had elected us to change government, and they rejected us because they believed government had changed us.”

At the GOPAC dinner, McCain followed the same line of thought but expanded upon his concept of “common sense conservatism. He stated: “Common sense conservatives believe in a short list of self-evident truths: love of country; respect for our unique influence on history; a strong defense and strong alliances based on mutual respect and mutual responsibility; steadfast opposition to threats to our security and values that matches resources to ends wisely; and confident, reliable, consistent leadership to advance human rights, democracy, peace and security.”

“We believe every individual has something to contribute and deserves the opportunity to reach his or her God-given potential. We believe in increasing wealth and expanding opportunity; in low taxes; fiscal discipline, free trade and open markets. We believe in competition, rewarding hard work and risk takers and letting people keep the fruits of their labor.”

“We believe in work, faith, service, a culture of life, personal responsibility. We believe in the integrity and values of families, neighborhoods and communities. We believe in limited government in a federal system, individual and property rights, and finding solutions to public problems closest to the people.”

“We believe in the rule of law and equal justice under the law, victim’s rights and taxpayers’ rights, and judges who interpret the Constitution and don’t usurp, by legislating from the bench, the public’s right to elect representatives to write our laws.”

“Common sense conservatives believe that the government that governs least governs best; that government should do only those things individuals cannot do for themselves, and do them efficiently. Much rides on that principle: the integrity of the government, our prosperity; and every American’s self-respect, which depends, as it always has, on one’s own decisions and actions, and cannot be provided as another government benefit.”

McCain’s charge to his fellow conservatives is simple. “We must spend the next two years reacquainting the public and ourselves with the reason we came to office in the first place: to serve a cause greater than our self-interest.”

The Senator hit a home run with these two speeches. He is absolutely right in that the majority of people are to the right of center. Any candidate that can run holding the base and attract moderates will be a successful candidate and President. McCain has clearly positioned himself as that candidate.

McCain Takes First Step for 2008 Run

2006-11-14T12:35:00.000-05:00

Those of us who believe John McCain is the best candidate for President in 2008 received an early Christmas present. Senator McCain is setting up his 2008 exploratory committee. While officially stating that this is a first step, and that a final decision won’t be made until early next year, all signs point to his running.

Why wouldn’t he? He’s already viewed by many to be a front runner. And after the drubbing the Republicans took in the mid-term elections, it is clear that a candidate is needed that can get back the more moderate voters. And this fact will be a key frustration to the more right wing of the Republican Party. Do they support a proven conservative that is more moderate on some issues and is proven to be able to win moderate voters back to the republican camp? Or do they fight to push a more right-wing candidate that will risk the Republicans losing non only congress, but the White House as well?

This will be a very interesting campaign. I can see the evangelical wing of the party wanting to stay far to the right, but believe the party faithful will vote for the candidate that better insures keeping the White House and winning back congress. I look forward to Senator McCain’s formal announcement of his candidacy. The sooner the better.

Election Post Mortem -- How do the Republicans Win in 2008?

2006-11-10T16:38:00.000-05:00

The elections are over, and the Republicans did much worse than I thought. I really expected (or maybe hoped) they would hold on to the Senate. So what happened?

Cleary Iraq was a major issue. Bush waited too long to fire Rumsfeld. But the dems did not have a plan for Iraq. I guess the voters wanted change, no mater what. But was it just Iraq?

I don’t think so. Both parties gravitated more towards its edges than towards the middle. Awhile ago I wrote that one of John McCain’s strengths was that he could win the middle. After last Tuesday, that is exactly what the Republicans need for 2008. They need a proven conservative that can win the moderate vote.

Patrick Hynes does a great job analyzing the election and clearly points out that it was the middle that gave this election to the dems and not a revolt by the conservative base. Patrick makes it clear that “Core conservative messaging is a clear winner. Smaller government, lower taxes, a muscular foreign policy, and traditional social values resonate so overwhelmingly with the American populous that even our Democrat opponents appropriated these—or some of these—messages this election year. Any Republican success in the future will be built on this matrix of issues.”

I agree! As we move into the 2008 presidential primary season, I expect that McCain will be well placed to hold the base with his conservative principles, and also win the moderates with his realistic approach to problem solving.

Election Day Thoughts – Let the Fun Begin

2006-11-07T16:45:00.000-05:00

Today millions of Americans are casting votes in the mid-term elections. As with many political junkies, I will be up late tonight seeing how the balance of power on Capitol Hill may change. If the pundits are correct, I fear that Nancy Pelosi as Speaker will not bode well for a productive final two years in the Bush presidency.

This thought alone gives me an added incentive to want to get the 2008 race into full swing. The good news from my perspective is that early polls put Senator McCain in a strong position.

In New Hampshire, a recent Concord Monitor poll gives McCain front runner status. The Monitor gives McCain 26 percent, to Giuliani’s 18 percent, with Romney in third place with 12 percent.

The news is just as good on a national basis. Angus Reid Consultants quotes a recent poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN that shows Giuliani as the nationwide front runner for the republican nomination with 29 per cent, McCain a strong second at 27 percent, with Newt Gingrich in third with 12 per cent. This poll is actually really positive news for McCain. While Giuliani is in the lead, his numbers were down 2 percent from their September poll data, while McCain’s numbers were up 7 percent from September’s data. This clearly shows that McCain’s steady leadership and handling of recent campaign issues, and his active support for republican candidates around the country, is successfully setting the stage for John’s 2008 run.

So let’s see what happens tonight, and let the fun begin towards 2008!

Kerry’s Military Education Comment

2006-11-02T09:01:00.000-05:00

So Kerry has apologized. What took him so long?
I thought John McCain’s call for an apology hit the mark. Two specific quotes in his statement including: “They all deserve our respect and deepest gratitude for their service.” And “Without them, we wouldn't live in a country where people securely possess all their God-given rights, including the right to express insensitive, ill-considered and uninformed remarks” point out yet again why McCain is well qualified to lead this country and be commander-in-chief.
Kerry’s on the other hand, points out yet again, why the democrats just don’t get it.
During the 2004 NH primary I served as a Republican Party monitor. I had the very interesting job of attending democratic candidate campaign stops and videotape the speeches. John Kerry was one of the ones I enjoyed most as I could clearly see his position sway depending on the audience, as well as his sarcasm and elitism. When he lost the presidential election, I really believed he was his own worse enemy.

So he has done it again. Why would anyone with an once of intelligence make a statement that if you are not well educated you end up in Iraq. But worse, he spins his comment that he was taliking about Bush. How stupid does he think the American people are? First, he was speaking to college students and using the clear term “you”. Anyone with a basic understanding of grammar would logically conclude he was speaking to the students. Second, does he forget that Bush attended Yale? And if my memory serves me right, his GPA was not far off from Kerry’s.

The net of all of this is that Kerry has likely taken himself out of the running as a leading presidential candidate. That’s actually too bad. Senator McCain would eat his lunch.

More On Romney’s Mormon Strategy Impact

2006-10-25T16:24:00.000-04:00

Recently I questioned Mitt’s Mormon church consultation strategy and it’s impact on his Presidential bid (Does Romney’s Mormon Faith Hinder Presidential Bid? – October 20 post). Since that posting there are lots of commentaries about this very issue. The problem now for Romney is that it is going beyond the religious issue.

Boston Globe columnist Scot Lehigh talks about this issue and how the Romney team tried to make political consultant Don Stirling the fall guy for the meeting. Scot’s comment on that excuse was “But that attempt to dismiss an obviously well-coordinated effort -- one that included Romney's brother and one of his sons -- raises real questions about the Romney operation's honesty.”

So now, Romney is faced with concerns that he is bringing his faith into the election, as well as concerns about his honesty. I repeat my prior observation that this issue will be an important one to follow as the primary campaigns move into active gear.

McCain Restates Position on Marriage Protection Amendment

2006-10-20T16:58:00.000-04:00

To those of you who might question Senator McCain’s conservative underpinnings, you might want to take a look at his recent statement on the Marriage Protection Amendment. The Senator does not support a Constitutional amendment at this time. He wants to leave the current discourse up to the voters in the fifty states. He did clearly articulate, however, that he “believe(s) that the institution of marriage can serve its public purposes only when it is understood as being a union between one man and one woman.”

The Senator’s statement makes it clear that when the people get to decide this issues that they are overwhelmingly supporting the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. I like the fact that the Senator is letting the political process work to resolve this issue. What I like even more is that the Senator is clear that the people should decide this issue and not activist judges. He was clear that should activist judges start over-ruling the people that “then, and only then, would the problem justify Congress making the momentous decision to amend the most enduring and successful political compact in human history as the only recourse means to restore the public’s right to define, according to the values and concerns of our communities, a critically important foundation of our society.”

Does Romney’s Mormon Faith Hinder Presidential Bid?

2006-10-20T16:56:00.000-04:00

As you can tell from previous posts, I am not a Romney fan. In fact, I fear that his geographical closeness to NH may negatively impact Senator McCain’s vote totals in the NH primary. My concern with Romney is definitely not religious. I am a firm believer that one’s religious background should not come into play as to their qualifications to be President.

That being said, however, those of you who are old enough to remember what John Kennedy went through running for President as a Catholic, can certainly see why many people may have concerns about Romney’s Mormon faith. Kennedy handled it well, keeping a clear dividing line between his politics and the Catholic Church.

So why isn’t Romney following the same process? A recent article on Boston.com has disclosed that “Governor Mitt Romney's political team has quietly consulted with leaders of the Mormon Church to map out plans for a nationwide network of Mormon supporters to help Romney capture the presidency in 2008.” While Romney’s Mormon faith doesn’t concern me, this decision does. If he doesn’t see the risk in involving Mormon Church leaders in his Presidential run, how might he deal with even more critical risks as President? This campaign approach will be an interesting one to follow.

McCain Supports Plan for Success in Iraq

2006-10-13T20:58:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Senator McCain released a statement that he support s General Peter Schoomaker’s announcement on the Army’s long-term plans for Iraq to keep the current level of soldiers in Iraq through 2010. McCain said he “believes we must increase troop strength if we are to win this war.”

What is most comforting to me about this announced support is John’s commitment to success and not political expediency. I think John’s steady (and correct) position on Iraq will help him in his presidential run.

A recent NH poll had McCain and Hillary the leading contenders for their party’s primary in NH. This Iraq position will do well for John, both with NH republicans, but against a possible Hillary challenge as well.

More Support for McCain in Iowa

2006-10-06T21:02:00.000-04:00

Straight Talk America announced that thirteen state legislators have joined together forming the Iowa Legislative Advisory Team for Senator McCain’s PAC. These legislators will advise Straight Talk America on matters relating to the Iowa Legislature and their efforts to gain and maintain Republican control of the Iowa Senate and House.

Even more interesting was Caucus Cooler’s reprint of an AP statement that "The lawmakers who have signed on with McCain run the philosophical gamut from moderate to sharply conservative and represent rural and urban legislative districts.”

McCain continues to demonstrate his ability to be perhaps the only candidate that can pull conservatives and moderates together.

How Does Romney Win the GOP Base?

2006-10-05T22:15:00.000-04:00

If Romney will be one of Senator McCain’s biggest rivals in the NH primary, it is interesting to watch the reactions to his appointment of NH’s own Tom Rath as a senior advisor. I’m sure this appointment was specifically targeted at the NH primary. But the question that must be asked is how does he win the GOP base?

E. J. Dionne, Jr., in a Washington Post op-ed piece, questions whether Rath’s appointment signals a run against the President. The article points out that Rath acknowledges that Iraq has taken a large toll on Bush and the rationale for his support for Romney “is surprisingly similar to the explanations that Democrats give for the popularity of governors such as Lynch or Sebelius: Voters are in a mood for less "doctrinaire" politicians who can fix things.” Roth is further quoted on the federal government that “"There's a feeling that this great big thing doesn't work very well." He said Republicans need to win back voters who feel they gave "the keys to the car" to their party only to have it driven "into the back of the garage."

If these comments portend the advice Rath is giving Romney, how does Romney win the GOP base that is still supportive of the President? Time will tell if this strategy plays out.

NH Politics Tidbits – McCain and Romney

2006-10-02T20:02:00.000-04:00

There is an interesting article on the GraniteGrok blog that discusses their view of the top three presidential republican candidates. They give it to McCain, Romney and Giuliani. I happen to agree. McCain has always been strong in New Hampshire, having won the state in the 2000 primary. (Now we just need the rest of the country to follow suit.) Romney, because he is from neighboring Massachusetts, can be viewed as an almost native son. And Giuliani, who continues to ride his positive performance in handling the NYC 9/11 event.

From a NH primary perspective, I worry most about Romney. Too many Mass residents, who have moved up to NH and still think of Ted Kennedy as their senator, might just take the same position on Romney.

An article on the American Spectator discusses the signing of Tom Rath, a long-time NH political activist, as a senior advisor to Romney’s campaign staff. Apparently many devout Catholics are pushing Romney. This article points out that Rath has been behind a couple of lobbying efforts that don’t appear to be favorable to pro-life causes. A second article on Politicsnh.com discusses Romney’s “uncomfortable balancing act …. in crafting a socially-conservative national profile”. Very interesting discussion on Romney’s actions when the MA Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay marriage.

As the primary gets into full speed next year, we need to make sure that NH voters are informed of each candidate’s track record, and not what they might be running on.

McCain Interviewed on the RealClearPolictics Blog

2006-09-30T13:08:00.000-04:00

Interesting interview with the Senator on the RCP blog. He talks about the upcoming elections and the war. While he said he believes some of our House seats are less in danger due to recent events, he is very concerned about the Republican voters staying home. He sees a real anger on the left with the current spending in Congress. Good comments and another re-affirmation that Senator McCain is for sure a conservative.

Republicans Now Analyzing the Torture Debate

2006-09-23T14:08:00.000-04:00

Anklebitingpundits.com (ABP) has an interesting discussion going on among republicans on Senator McCain’s intentions during the detainee torture discussion.

Deal on Detainees Unites Republicans

2006-09-22T18:25:00.000-04:00

The details are out on the compromise agreement between the President and Republican Senators on the detainee issue. Senator McCain, appearing on the “Today” show this morning, told NBC News that a deal reached with President Bush will lead to fair trials and interrogations but not torture. McCain was quoted as saying “We got what we wanted, and that is the preservation of the Geneva Conventions. There will be no more torture. There will be no more mistreatment of prisoners that would violate standards of conduct we would expect of people who work for the United States of America.”

The question will be asked, does this compromise agreement in order to get Congress’ authority to conduct military tribunals, compromise the President’s ability to successfully obtain critical information from detainees. I think that Liz Mair’s summary analysis of the detainee deal as “not perfect, but acceptable” to both sides was well stated.

I suspect that McCain will take heat from the far right on this issue during the campaign. But the end result was a compromise that appears acceptable from both viewpoints -- not perfect, but acceptable. And that is what compromise is all about, and why John McCain is the best chance for this country to have a leader that can pull people with opposing viewpoints together.

Union Leader Publishes McCain’s Detainee Position

2006-09-21T20:59:00.000-04:00

Even though it looks like a compromise has been reached on the handling of detainees, I thought it would be of value to document two interesting articles on this issue. These statements might be important for future reference when the campaign gets into full gear.

The Union Leader yesterday had a good op-ed piece by Senator McCain that clearly covers John’s position on the detainee issue, his concerns, his understanding of the importance of the issue, and his desire to reach a compromise that meets all of the above. It is a great position statement that, even if you don’t totally agree with him, makes you understand why he is the right man to lead this country.

Vermont’s Burlington Free Press had another article covering John's position.

Senator McCain Criticized in NH over Terrorist Detainee Issue

2006-09-19T23:24:00.000-04:00

Senator McCain took a lot of grief from the right during his recent trip to NH. The NY Times was quick to point out McCain’s differences with the President about the handling of terrorist suspects.

On the other side of this issue, a Navy JAG Officer lashed out at critics of Sen. John McCain in a powerfully worded column in the California Republic. He takes issue both with the dismissive tone with which “McCain & Co.” have been attacked and on matters of the law. It does give another view point to the debate. The California Republic also had another similar article discussing the case against Bush’s policy.

This is a very heated issue. I personally do not support giving these terrorists any protections under the Geneva Convention. They are not soldiers. They are criminals. But I do stop short of supporting torture. Taking the emotion out of it, the right should at least look at the issue from a more centric view. I appreciate where John is on this issue given his years in captivity as a POW. We need to find a solution that meets the needs of securing this country that falls short of torture, and doesn’t jeopardize our own soldiers in future conflicts.

McCain to Back Rightroots Effort

2006-09-14T21:21:00.000-04:00

Senator McCain will support the Rightroots effort, a conservative coalition to support the election of Republican candidates for the US House and Senate. The effort is intended to provide support to candidates that can help the Republicans retain control of Congress and the conservative agenda. I found this announcement at http://www.anklebitingpundits.com/content/index.php?p=745

On this page there is also a great video clip of the Senator at a fund raiser. Very funny.

Mitt’s Political Campaign Gift to NH Voters?

2006-09-10T10:18:00.000-04:00

The Manchester Union Leader recently published an article on the fact that Mitt Romney has finally agreed to look at sending NH taxpayer’s monies they are due from Massachusetts.

Massachusetts owes NH annual payments for lost property due to flood-control dams that were constructed as a result of a 1957 agreement. The last year MA paid the full bill was in 1993, with no payments since 2002. Now, all of a sudden, Mitt Romney is committing to helping negotiate and resolve differences with New Hampshire over flood-control dams. NH’s governor John Lynch is “pleased that after more than a decade we are finally seeing action on this important issue.” Might it be that Mitt is just trying to improve his “home field” advantage in the NH Presidential primary?

The full article can be found at: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Romney+says+he%27ll+work+with+NH+to+arbitrate+flood+payments&articleId=fcedff70-43fe-4d5d-8136-0f3abf81a78a

Romney’s Conservative Positioning

2006-09-09T14:23:00.000-04:00

One thing that interests me is how candidates run from their records when they campaign for President. During the 2004 Democratic Presidential primary, I was a monitor for the Republican party. I videotaped all the candidate and heard their campaign stories many times. John Kerry was a great example of this in 2004.

Since Mitt Romney, governor of Massachusetts, will have a “home field advantage” in the NH primary, it will be interesting to see how he repositions himself as a more conservative candidate. NH will need to look at his record to understand the true Mitt.

Another John McCain blog picked up a story about this same issue in the Florida primary. Check it out at http://www.eyeon08.com/2006/09/06/tough-running-on-the-right-when-you-havent-been/

McCain Gains Support in Michigan

2006-09-07T21:52:00.000-04:00

According to the Straight Talk America website, Senator McCain picked up support from ten Michigan State Senators for its Straight Talk Michigan Legislative Advisory Team. Senator McCain has support from ten of the twenty-two Republican State Senators. Read about it at http://www.straighttalkamerica.com/news/read.aspx?ID=64

McCain polling well for 2008 Republican nomination

2006-09-07T21:38:00.000-04:00

Interesting article for those of you who think Senator McCain isn’t conservative enough to win the republican nomination. Read about the Opinion Dynamics poll on the Angus Reid Consultants website at http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/13024

Welcome to NH for McCain!

2006-09-05T11:25:00.000-04:00

This blog will focus on the race and key issues that lead up to the 2008 Presidential election. My goal is to provide a central information source to all New Hampshire residents who are interested in a focal point to catch up on news surrounding the race and key issues, particularly ones of interest to NH. While concentrating on John McCain, I’ll also take the opportunity to pass along other interesting bits of information that might be helpful in getting a picture of all the candidates and the key issues.