The Note: Is John McCain Running for Kerry’s First Term and Obama for Bush’s Third?
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein Reports in Friday’s Note: Maybe we had it wrong from the start: It’s Barack Obama who is running for George Bush’s third term, while John McCain just might be pursuing John Kerry’s first.
Not on policy, of course (not that Team McCain would much mind that perception these days). But in approach, in temperament, in stability, in take-no-prisoners mindset — inside which campaign would Karl Rove recognize a piece of himself?
In the one with tightly controlled access, the jugular-aiming (drama-free) political shop, and the temerity to cast aside a fundraising pledge en route to breaking all campaign-finance records?
Or the one with rolling press conferences, scattershot messaging (with missed zingers), and complaints about the other side not playing fair?
We have found the new politics — and it can spend half a billion dollars to win an election.
Read the rest of The Note — and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day — from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.
There’s a signal here that Bush campaign veterans can appreciate: Obama made a coldly calculating decision based on a desire to win. He tossed aside a pledge rather than throwing away the single biggest advantage he enjoys over his rival.
"Sen. Barack Obama’s decision to forgo public financing for his presidential campaign clears the way for him to outspend Sen. John McCain by 3-to-1 or substantially more in the general election, a financial edge that dramatically rewrites the playbooks for both candidates," per ABC News. "The comparison with the consistently cash-strapped McCain campaign could hardly be more stark."
If he raises $300 million, $400 million, or $500 million for the general election — where WOULDN’T he try to compete? (And a new Obama ad that’s running in Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota — and not Minnesota, Oregon, or Washington — tells that story "straight from the Kansas heartland" on a convenient day for it to be told.)
"Barack Obama faced two critical questions: where to play and how to pay. To answer both, the Democrat reversed course to become the first candidate to reject $85 million in public money for the general election," the AP’s Liz Sidoti writes. "The decision will allow the record-shattering fundraiser to raise and spend as much as he wants — and, thus, implement his strategy to expand the Electoral College playing field."
Not to be lost in all the discussion of broken pledges, broken systems, and broken-down negotiations: Obama, D-Ill., made a very good political move — probably the only move that spared him the wrath of his own party. It’s almost certainly the move that gives him the best chance to actually win. (Which side took that lesson to heart in 2004?)
For Obama, it’s another in a series of pragmatic decisions (perish the thought). "He’s kept his distance from elements of the Democratic Party that demand purity, from Washington reformers to more ideologically-motivated liberal bloggers," Politico’s Ben Smith writes. "Instead, his campaign has sought the Kennedy mantle, modeling the candidate after a revered Democratic family not known for its scruples."
But as Obama would be the first to tell you, 2008 isn’t 2004 — or, for that matter, 1960. A shattered pledge joins non-existent town-hall debates and some shifting positions in the slowly growing all-talk-but-no-action collection being compiled by Team McCain.
"This is a big deal, a big deal," McCain said Thursday of Obama’s decision, per ABC News’ Bret Hovell. "He has completely reversed himself and gone back, not on his word to me, but the commitment he made to the American people."
The calculation really wasn’t all that difficult: Obama trades maybe (generously) a few thousand people who care deeply about campaign-finance reform, for maybe (surely) a few million people who will hear his message because he has an extra couple hundred million dollars to spend.
But this is a fact: He never really tried to "aggressively pursue" that agreement. (He’s been the presumptive nominee for less than two weeks, and he never had the promised private meeting with McCain.)
(And no one is above reproach — even if he purports to have created a new, better public-financing system all on his own. We still don’t know how far the national press corps is from turning on him entirely.)
Continue reading today’s Note by clicking HERE.
ABC News’ John Santucci and James Gerber contributed to this report.
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
but he’s not supposed to be a typical politician…this is a mistake and makes me feel queasy about him…
Posted by: lynn | June 20, 2008, 10:02 am 10:02 am
McCain has lost ANY credibility he ever had with his absolute defiance of election laws that he himself wrote, nad cried, tantrums in all to get hammered into law. He is the worst kind of hypocite and deserves to be outspent 10 to 1, for the stunts he has pulled. Why should Obama be forced to bail him out of the mess he has created for himself. McCain wasn’t held accountable for ANY of the campaign finance laws he himself passed and willingly BROKE. He never should have been on the ballot in the first place after his funding dried up. So why should we expect him to hold himself to any standard at all. He is a boldfaced LIAR. And a scam artist of the worst kind. Obama just chose not to tie his hands, and nobody can or should force him to. McCain wrote the law, chose to brake it, got the benefit (and the nomination) because of it, and now is calling Obama, to the carpet. PLEASE, dear God, give me a freakin’ break. Even his attacks, attack McCain far more than they can even attack his target. Of course (‘NO you CAN’T, my friends”) McCain always was a master of missing his targets, and wrecking planes as well as campaigns. 3 in the service and 2 as a civillian. Some pilot! (“Agents of intolerance”, more like agents of convienience for John boy) Where’s the hue and cry for JOhn’s admiration of the “brown satan” spewer of hatred Rod Parsley, and the anti Catholic Zionist John Hagee NOW!!! Friends of convience, indeed! McCain should bound and gag his own self (like those suspected and sent to Gitmo, without any evidence) and ahem, pray, that the almighty does something drastic to “save” his campaign from it’s inevitable disaster. But then again, what are “his friends” in the media for anyway. Surely they will come through for him in the end. At least that’s what he thinks in his own mind, if no one elses. He prays and kowtows to the liberal media and calls himself a conservative. If that’s not a pathetic example of a sellout person without any principle but the worship of power, then I don’t know what is.
Posted by: pity | June 20, 2008, 10:48 am 10:48 am
Senator Obama is as phony as every other politician in Washington and will do whatever it takes to win. First with distancing himself from Rev. Wright, Secondly by leaving the Church he attended for eternity and now this. I know who won’t be voting for him.
Posted by: Naydean | June 20, 2008, 10:56 am 10:56 am
For the first time in my adult life, I’m disappointed to have voted Democrat.
Posted by: FishMonger | June 20, 2008, 11:06 am 11:06 am
For the first time in my adult life, I’m really disappointed to have voted Democrat.
Posted by: FishMonger | June 20, 2008, 11:07 am 11:07 am
Thomas – you must subscribe to different cable programming than me. Fox is definitely from the right, but every acronym-laden media outlet broadcasting in my line-up is SObama, I can only distinguish the ‘guests’ from the ‘reporters’ by looking at the graphics banners.
My favorite spin was ‘the View’ when Michelle guest hosted. They somehow declared her infamous quote has been errantly reported without the ‘really’ part. They glossed past the fact that she repeated the speech multiple times that day. She was obviously coached for the subsequent speeches – and injected ‘really’. A subtle way of creating competing soundbites.
Posted by: FishMonger | June 20, 2008, 11:23 am 11:23 am
Becky… thanks.
Posted by: Thomas Paine | June 20, 2008, 11:35 am 11:35 am
well well, its nto the first time he has flipped flopped. The man has no honor. Its a complete Obamanation!
Posted by: old and proud | June 20, 2008, 11:53 am 11:53 am
Obama has been the “golden boy” of the mainstreet media since he began his campaign. Look at all the hell Hillary went through daily while Nobama remained unscathed. And now, once again, the media continues to only give him praise. Thats ok, the only thing that counts will be in November when Americans pull the lever and we will see Nobama lose. Can’t wait to hear his concession speech!
Posted by: david from texas | June 20, 2008, 11:56 am 11:56 am
While Obama has generated an unprecedented outpouring of small donations from grassroots supporters, he also gets more than a third of his money from big donors who give the maximum of more than $2,000 apiece.
These $2,000 donors would include James Sorrels, the Anti-Semitic Russian who wants Obama in office. Sorrels has dispersed monies to his relatives and friends in order to donate to Obama’s campaign. This is how these contributions are being kept underwraps because of their diversity. Obama,by rejecting public funding, has opened the doors for questionable donors and income, which is what Obama is doing right now, under the noses of Americans. Check your facts about this guy before you vote for him….he’s a crook and has a hidden agenda.
Posted by: david from texas | June 20, 2008, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
John Mcbush have been giving a free ride , this guy finish at the bottom of his class at the naval academy but he is running to be president.
I will go out on a limb and say Pres Bush is smarter than him. Now chew on that frighten thought.
But everyone looks the other way because he serve in the army.
Imagine with those qualification he tries to get a job to run a 500 company, They would laugh his tail right out the office, but he is trying for the OVAL OFFICE.
ISN’T LIFE JUST GRAND.
Posted by: *sigh* | June 20, 2008, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
The reason Obama turned down public financing is that he think he will have more money and buy out this election…
The question: Obama’s money can really buy the vote of Americans?? Will Americans sell out their vote for money??
Posted by: True Truth | June 20, 2008, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
Bho is more like Bush in his (in)ability than anything else that scares people.
Posted by: Olbermn3 | June 20, 2008, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
True Truth stated:
The reason Obama turned down public financing is that he think he will have more money and buy out this election…
The question: Obama’s money can really buy the vote of Americans?? Will Americans sell out their vote for money??
Posted by: True Truth | Jun 20, 2008 12:19:47 PM
Obama, along with his
wife, actually think they can buy America’s votes……..go figure. He is being funded by extemists who have their thumbs on him and Obama will become their puppet.
Posted by: david from texas | June 20, 2008, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
If anyone else were the dems nominee, she would have been at least 20 pts ahead. This phony is ruining everything.
Posted by: Olbermn3 | June 20, 2008, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
Good for Barack turning down public funding ,
He will need to fight off the smears , Which he is already doing against him and his wife. And if some of you fools think Mccain only will have public funding at his disposal , then i have BRIDGE to sell you.
John McCain LOBBYIST and 527′s and other will do his dirty work free of charge.
Posted by: simon | June 20, 2008, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
Obama 08, we go for the figure not empty talk in the net. We are both on the net and in the field. Join the winning team if you are loosing
Posted by: Sam | June 20, 2008, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
Would like to see some pics side by side, Obama being inspired and embraced by Wright, while McCain laying on bed just out of POW camp.
Posted by: Olbermn3 | June 20, 2008, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
Obama wants to make new rules when they favor himself. Yeh, thats change you can believe in, just like Hillary. These Democratic candidates both love to move the goalposts.
Posted by: Mike | June 20, 2008, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
When Obama says he has gotten these millions from small donors, he is lying.
He has received the maximum donations allowed from rich donors and lobbyist.
I would like to know how much of his money has gone to superdelegates. This is one Dem. who will be an Ind. as long as these egg heads insist on running the primaries allowing superdelegates and coucases to elect the person who may be the next president. They don’t represent the majority. Of course, Obama and his supporters say to hell with the majority.
Michelle was describing him on The View and she used the word pathetic of course it was a slip according to The View people. I think it hit the nail on the head.
Posted by: Mickey | June 20, 2008, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
Obama has the most lopsided advantages I have ever seen in a presidential race.
He is such a weak candidate however, Mc Cain still has a real chance of winning.
Posted by: yessir | June 20, 2008, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
Obama’s campaign *is* publicly financed. More than 1.5 million people have donated to his campaign–the vast majority being tiny donations ($5, $10, $25). Isn’t that the whole point?
If McCain were raising the kind of money Obama is, he’d junk the public-financing system too. But he isn’t.
Posted by: fivecard | June 20, 2008, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
so what you guys are saying along with McCain, is that if Obama changes his mind then it is a down right lie, and we should beware, do not trust anything he says or does, but when McCain changes his mind it is just a flip flop and that is ok because issues change from day to day.
I hope I got this right, i do not want to be screwed up in the mind.
Posted by: Becky | June 20, 2008, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm
I’ve heard of sore losers but I now see there are sore winners. The party bosses gave Barack the purported win, but his supporters still seem rather bitter and hateful. Guess deep down they still feel like losers because the popular vote went against them.
If the whining vitriolic far left is allowed to own the democratic machine, the democratic brand is going to lose more than just the presidency in November.
Posted by: The Real Truth | June 20, 2008, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
Would you kids listen to yourselves? Do you really think blitzing these message boards with your little tantrums and childish rhetoric will sway the election?
Obama is a leader with a vision. The whole world is excited about this election. With Obama as president, America will once again enjoy the respect of the international community, and Americans will enjoy a leader who is actively working in their best interest, not in the interest of lobbyists, cronies, and the shareholders of Halliburton.
Posted by: D.F. Boyd | June 20, 2008, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm
Wrong analogy on Obama!
He’s running for Bush #1′s second term!
Bush #1 made a “No New Taxes Pledge”,
which was subsequently broken during his
one term presidency!
Obama has stated that he will only
raise taxes on people earning
$250,000 and above!
Since Obama has already broken his
pledge to accept public financing for his presidential campaign, we can expect that if he is elected president that he will raise taxes on everyone!
How else can he pay for his
mutli-billion dollar domestic programs?
Just say No to Obama! No You Can’t!
Posted by: reaganfan | June 20, 2008, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
Obama stated,’ he opt out, because McCain and the RNC will use 526 against him’. Well, I hope they do, maybe then we, as American voters will find out the truth about Obama, the media and DNC won’t tell us.
Posted by: jp,michigan | June 21, 2008, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm