The McCain Comeback

Matthew Continetti writes for the Weekly Standard that after last night's debate, the GOP08 campaign is a new race - the McCain comeback and the Thompson entry: Wednesday night's Fox News Channel debate saw McCain reassert his place in the top tier of Republican contenders. And it was his answers on critical foreign policy questions involving Gen. David Petraeus's "surge" strategy in Iraq, the interrogation techniques deployed on enemy detainees, and the use of military force against Iran that established his strong position. It increasingly seems clear that illegal immigration, the issue which dominated the Republican race throughout the spring and summer, and an issue on which McCain stands directly opposed to many in his party, will not be the issue on which the nomination is decided. To put it another way: Foreign policy has come home to roost.

Fred Barnes, also with the Weekly Standard, agrees: No Presidential nomination or election has ever been won on the basis of a performance in a debate. But candidates can help or hurt themselves. Last night in New Hampshire, John McCain helped himself and Mitt Romney hurt himself. And while Rudy Giuliani was no slouch, he became tedious by droning on about his accomplishments as mayor of New York. The five other Republican presidential candidates didn't matter much. Fred Thompson, who announced his candidacy last night on TV, was a no-show.

McCain was ready and eager to stress his muscular position in favor of the "surge" in Iraq, and he had plenty of opportunity to do so. The key moment came after Romney said the surge was "apparently working," and McCain challenged him. "No, not apparently, it's working," McCain responded sharply....The alacrity with which McCain went after Romney on Iraq reflected the Arizona senator's view that Romney shades or modifies his position on the war, depending on his audience. After the debate, McCain aides accused Romney of having three different positions on Iraq in four days....That Romney may be vulnerable on Iraq--at least McCain thinks so--is new. And McCain is now certain to prolong his quarrel with Romney as he embarks on what his campaign has dubbed the "No Surrender" tour....By the way, a focus group of 29 New Hampshire Republicans conducted during the debate by pollster Frank Luntz found McCain to be the winner. He exceeded the expectations of the group, while Giuliani disappointed them.

For what more people are saying about McCain's debate performance, read here.

John McCain: Courageous Service

The Comeback Campaign Plan

Politico.com's Jonathan Martin describes the McCain campaign's comeback plan to win the nomination. The story also provides links to the campaign's talking points on the matter as well as a one-pager comparing this to Reagan's 1980 campaign.

Coburn on McCain's Courage

Senator Tom Coburn writes this piece in National Review: McCain’s Courage - A rare American politician

As the American people, elected officials, and commentators reflect on the heated immigration debate that came to a temporary close in the Senate this week many will ask, and have asked, why U.S. Senator John McCain (R., Ariz.) staked out a position that may, in retrospect, be seen as devastating to his presidential ambitions. I hope the American people, at least, step back from the obsessive play-by-play pre-season election analysis and reflect on Senator McCain’s actions for what I believe they were: One of the purest examples of political courage seen in Washington in a very, very long time....

I opposed Senator McCain in this immigration debate. I believed the policies he advocated were wrong for America and I used every tool at my disposal to defeat his position. However, the way Senator McCain conducted himself represented the essential qualities of leadership the American people deserve.

Senator McCain didn’t speak in generalities. He spoke in specific terms. He didn’t take a position and change his position when he came under withering fire. He didn’t pander. He didn’t equivocate. He didn’t demean his opponents in the Senate or insinuate we harbored base motives or secret prejudices. He was motivated by principle. He believed he was serving his country. He was not inspired by political strategists who foolishly believed they could use this bill to grow the Republican party, and did not lecture his colleagues about why those strategists were smarter and wiser than 80 percent of Americans....

Whether you agree with him or not, Senator McCain’s actions demonstrated the qualities we rarely see in Washington — courage, character, honor, and dignity.

It saddens me that so many commentators will judge Senator McCain’s actions by how his role in this debate will impact the next poll or fundraising report. Survival is not the highest virtue in politics. Sacrifice is the highest virtue. In battle we don’t ask which soldier was a success — the one who charged the hill and lives a long life or his friend beside him who falls and leaves a widow and children behind. Whether this week helps or hurts Senator McCain politically is not the point. What matters is that without courage, we all lose.

Most politicians possess, in abundance, the skill of making promises that will appeal to a majority of voters. Very few politicians, however, ever demonstrate the kind of political courage Senator McCain demonstrated in this debate. Many qualities, of course, matter when selecting our elected leaders — political philosophy, judgment, specific plans, etc. — but the most important quality upon which all others depend is courage. On that count, Senator McCain has given all of us in the Senate an example to be followed.

Read the full article here.

Primary

Bobby Harrison writes about McCain's recent visit but laments that Mississippi is "likely to play only minor role in nominations"

Thursday Fundraiser

The Associated Press and WLBT covered McCain's fundraiser in Jackson last night.

McCain in Jackson

Senator John McCain will be in Jackson today for a pair of fundraisers. At 5PM he will be a the Country Club of Jackson for a $500 a person event, to be followed by an event at 6PM at the home of Jim and Donna Barksdale at $2300 a person. Jim Barksdale is McCain's Mississippi Finance Chairman and between the events and donor commitments the campaign expects to raise over $200,000. McCain 08's Mississippi Chairman and Southern Regional Co-Chairman Congressman Chip Pickering will accompany Senator McCain.

Tonight's Debate

During tonight's GOP Presidential debate in South Carolina, Senator JOhn McCain will be the only top-tier candidate with a strong and consistent record as an anti-pork barrel spending, pro-gun, pro-life Republican. McCain is the only Republican candidate with the experience to lead and the conservative record to trust.

Chip Pickering shared the qualifications of Senator McCain with folks in South Carolina this morning on WLMA 1350-AM, Greenwood S.C. He will be in S.C. during and after the debate meeting with voters and those in the press in support of McCain08.

McCain Up In Early Polls

New poll numbers from the American Research Group have John McCain leading in the three early primary states. Senator McCain is up by 7% over Giuliani in Iowa, 5% over Romney in New Hampshire, and 13% over Giuliani in South Carolina.

Boston Herald: GOP hopeful McCain surges in early-primary states

Pickering on MSNBC

Congressman Chip Pickering will appear on MSNBC's Tucker with Tucker Carlson tomorrow (Wed 4/25) at 3:11pm (central time) to discuss John McCain's Presidential announcement.

Fundraising and Jim Barksdale

Sunday's (4/22) Clarion Ledger reported that John McCain had raised more money from Mississippi than any other Republican candidate for President, although he trailed Democratic candidate John Edwards. McCain raised $43,625 from Mississippi during the first three months of this year.

Congressman Chip Pickering and Senator Trent Lott will be hosting a fundraiser for McCain in May, along with McCain's Mississippi Finance Chairman Jim Barksdale. They hope to raise $200,000.

Pickering: McCain and the Enduring Judiciary

Congressman Chip Pickering writes in "McCain and the Enduring Judiciary" at Townhall.com that as President, John McCain has both the conservative ideology to pick solid judicial nominees and the politics of results to see those nominees confirmed by the Senate. Pickering frames the column in context of the Supreme Court's ruling upholding the national federal ban on partial birth abortion. Read it here.

Partial Birth Abortion Ban

"Cherish The Sanctity Of Life:"
Statement By Senator McCain

ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released the following statement: "Today's Supreme Court ruling is a victory for those who cherish the sanctity of life and integrity of the judiciary. The ruling ensures that an unacceptable and unjustifiable practice will not be carried out on our innocent children. It also clearly speaks to the importance of nominating and confirming strict constructionist judges who interpret the law as it is written, and do not usurp the authority of Congress and state legislatures. As we move forward, it is critically important that our party continues to stand on the side of life."

04.25.07 - Coming Soon

Watch the new McCain announcement teaser video here.