Despite the fervency of the some of the crowds McCain has been drawing lately, I'm sensing a worrying and definite attrition of supporters, perhaps even because of that very fervency — it is hard to deny that lately, there has been a shift in the tone of the McCain campaign. McCain debuted what's being touted as a "comeback" speech moments ago, as even some who haven't officially haven't renounced a McCain/Palin vote are expressing doubt.
I got this email from a friend this weekend, a Dole-Bush-Bush voting Republican explaining why she's doubting:
The last four months of the campaign make me furious. How dare they take away the (albeit unconventional) dignified essence of the candidate and leave us with this dumb hick woman and a mob of uniformed reactionary zealots and call that a case made for a vote? It's an ill-conceived and torturous soul-selling for victory that will only ultimately prove to be ironic when he loses. Furious! I couldn't feel more cheated out of my vote. I'm honestly considering not casting one.
A strong response of the current campaign strategy to be sure, but these waning, and some say uglier, days of the campaign have put many ill at ease supporting McCain. Conservative by birth Christopher Buckley wrote a column this weekend titled, "Sorry, Dad, I'm voting for Obama." To see what he said, read more.
In his piece he explains what many might be feeling:
All this is genuinely saddening, and for the country is perhaps even tragic, for America ought, really, to be governed by men like John McCain—who have spent their entire lives in its service, even willing to give the last full measure of their devotion to it. If he goes out losing ugly, it will be beyond tragic, graffiti on a marble bust.
Buckley isn't alone. The co-founder of the RedState blog wrote Friday that he opened his ballot intending to vote for McCain, but then admitted, "In the end, I couldn't do it." Other Republicans are coming to this decision too, for a variety of reasons.
If you're a McCain supporter, are you feeling less sure of your vote? Why? Are these reactions isolated cases of less-than-true Republicans — are real supporters fired up?
Update: In a similar vein, Christopher Hitchens just released his endorsement for Obama.
Update II: Dennis Hopper just joined the Obama list too. . . .
Dolce & Gabbana
ras
John Lewis
Citizen...are you thinking of not voting for McCain? Are you going to go third party?!
1she lost me at "dumb hick woman"
I am always dismayed at the negative ads every single election, but i have learned to ignore them. I also ignore all the freakazoids who are overzealous and angry and have no censor to thier mouths who are at the rallies or being interviewed. they have nothing to do with McCains bid for the presidency.
I am still voting McCain.
2Nope True Song, no third-party swapperoo for me. I do however like the direction his "respect" video (posted Saturday) and his speech this morning are heading. More of that please.
3I have to say that I agree completely with this post. Though I am not a registered Republican, I am a "swing voter." I don't like to align with a single party and vote on the issues. I was very excited about McCain running and at the beginning he was my frontrunner. At this point, I find his whole campaign a farce and I will not be voting for him. I also completely agree with the single comment about "uniformed reactionary zealots." I am not saying at all that everyone voting for McCain is like that (everyone on here is very well informed!) - its just in my discussions with friends, co-workers, and neighbors (those who are not the type to read political blogs all day) - I am amazed at the arguments for pro-McCain. It tends to have more to do with Obama's "extremist tendencies" than the actual issues. I am completely disappointed with McCain and his campaign.
4I'm disappointed with the McCain camp these days but I'm still voting for him. Obama is too left on most issues for me to ever justify voting for him.
5I could never imagine for voting for McCain and especially so with Palin on the ticket, but its interesting to hear why other people would.
6I'm with you piper. And I think that alot of people just jump on the hype about Palin, instead of knowing what she's really about.
7I too am disapointed in the campaign that McCain has been running in the last month or so, but ultimately every vote should come down to issues, and Obama just isn't for me where thats concerned.
8The frustration she expressed with Palin was communicated after some of the rallies last week escalated, as discussed in this piece. I think the statement was expressed in shock over the seeming crossing of many lines and Palin's presence--though it's certainly arguable the two aren't linked.
9It seems to me that Republicans were so concerned with winning the war that they lost most of the battles.
10I kind of feel the same way about Obama. Going into the primaries I was on the fence, but he won me over and I read his book and I get swept up into the Camelot Redux emotions. I've been disapointed by how he has run his campaign...there's has been quite a bit of negativity there as well and it's really discouraging. Overall, neither of these campaigns are living up to what they should be for the problems we're facing and our moment in history.
I'm still voting for Obama, but in all the presidential elections I've voted in so far it has always felt like a lesser of two evils decision and I was hoping it would be different this year.
11I agree Michelin, but then the Republican party has had a really bad start. There were so many strong democratic candidates, but McCain was really the only decent choice for Republicans so you knew he was going to win the nomination. Then with the Republicn candidates having to find a safe way to distance themselves from the Bush disaster while still maintaining ideals...The party has really had to fight an uphill battle and now for such a strong competitor to be reduced to this anti-Obama stance instead of pro McCain/Palin. I'm lucky to be voting democratic.
12Jessie, I don't know how closely you paid attention to the Republican primaries, but McCain was not the only decent choice. Ron Paul was incredible, Huckabee had some great ideas, and even Romney was a better option. I'm still baffled as to how they ended up with McCain.
13M2 that is very interesting!
Mich - I agree... I think during the primaries everyone was thinking electability and maybe that McCain being more moderate would be our best shot. But I think that backfired, all it realy did was force him to do some pandering to the far right. You can't please all the people all the time.
We need to get away from neo-con and back to true conservatism.... geesh, even libertarianism! call it something else! i dont even care! just get back to basics!
14Mich - I agree with that comment too! To a Dem McCain might seem like the best choice, but to a Pub? NO WAY. Most Pubs don't even like him to begin with.
15Mitt Romney was a decent candidate, He would have had my backing if McCain hadnt been the nominee.
Obama has had just as many negative attack ads as McCain. and its not "because McCain did them first"
16I am very, very glad to hear the voices of Republicans turned off by the negativity and poor choices made in the campaign. It has seemed extremely manipulative for quite some time now, built more on fearmongering and "Six Pack Joe" politics than on the issues, and I've often felt that many Republicans should feel their intelligence insulted by what the campaign assumes they'd vote for.
17I'm still voting McCain, although the few weeks have made it hard to support him.
But I would much rather McCain on his worst day than Obama. He's so far left it's not funny and most of my views do not sink up with his.
18I did follow the republican primaries. When your in college and on the debate team you spend a lot time following politics, that includes the tedious reading and research most people don't have time for. I'll guess we really see this differently, not that I like McCain, I trust him even less than general politicians. Anyways I'll get out of here before I say something else biased or insulting.
19Jessie, the comments were just based on you saying "There were so many strong democratic candidates, but McCain was really the only decent choice for Republicans so you knew he was going to win the nomination"
and us telling you that wasnt true. you cant post something like that and not expect reaction!
20“The national media has written us off.,” McCain says in excerpts released by the campaign. “Sen. Obama is measuring the drapes and planning with Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Reid to raise taxes, increase spending, take away your right to vote by secret ballot in labor elections and concede defeat in Iraq. But they forgot to let you decide. My friends, we’ve got them just where we want them.”
What? This is the comeback speech?
21Oh really TxRdRaider, I wish Obama would stop pandering so much to the middle and conservatives. He didn't do that as much in the beginning. I wish we had a candidate that would just come out say they support gay marriage or real universal health care...I guess I can dream (or move to Germany
). Overall I'm tired of the rhetoric and campaigning. I just want the issues "straight up," for lack of a better term.
Good day
22Oh I expected a reaction. What I said was just MY personal opinion. I was cautioning for future comments once I gauged how differently we saw. No disrespect intended.
233 more weeks people! 3 more weeks!
glad I already voted.
24I am glad to see that there are republicans out there that are turned off by Palin. She alone would make me run for the other side.
25I don't even think it's about Palin exactly. It's about what the choice of her says about the McCain campaign, and what it says about how the McCain campaign views voters.
26>I too am disapointed in the campaign that McCain has been running in the last month or so, but ultimately every vote should come down to issues, and Obama just isn't for me where thats concerned.
It's not the only one, but I'd say how one runs a campaign is an issue.
27Jude- yes that is another issue too. I know some New York Republicans that are very unhappy with McCain's campaign and after Palin -they are torn about what to do. They don't want Obama obviously but they are strongly against the choice of Palin as VP. I don't really know any other republicans besides those in NYC- and I find that they tend to be moderate. I am happy to see they are not the only ones who are frustrated.
28I won't pretend that I adore every McCain/Palin policy... heck, I dislike most of Palin's policies. But I'm against the USA becoming a socialist nation, so... There's no way I could vote for Obama. Almost everything he's talking about (even in the speech he's giving RIGHT NOW!) is socialism without the label.
29Hmm.. surprised he didn't mention gun rights in that little snippet. Nothing fires up the Republican base like an attack on gun rights!
30I've heard alot of the same Citizen on the indifference for voting for McCain. Personally, I liked the man. He had my vote in 2000 and of all the candidates on the Republican ticket, I felt he was the best because he was more moderate. And then he picked Palin. That's when I personally got active getting out the vote for Obama.
I read a similar sentiment your friend shared from former Redstate.com founder Joshua Trevino who basically couldn't cast his vote McCain in California.
"In the end, I couldn’t do it. My California ballot arrived in the mail today, and I opened it fully intending to vote for John McCain. I filled out the state propositions first — yes on 8, no on everything proposing a new bond or new spending — then the local offices, straight Republican excepting Kevin Johnson for (nonpartisan) Sacramento mayor. Finally, the vote for President of the United States: an academic exercise in California, where Barack Obama will surely win by a crushing margin. But good citizenship demands voting as if it matters. Do I believe in John McCain? Not as much as I used to. Do I believe in Sarah Palin? Despite my early enthusiasm for her, now not at all. Do I believe in the national Republican Party? Not in the slightest — even though I see no meaningful alternative to it. So, my choice for President in 2008, scrawled in my ballot as an act of futile protest, is Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. If nothing else, I am confident this is the first of several votes I will cast for him in years to come."
I liked his idea of Bobby Jindal as a candidate for 2012!
31I like Bobby Jindal too. He's the hope for the Republican future! I'm disappointed in this election as a whole. For an election that has made history, this one is turning out to be just like the others. We are finally going to see a woman or an African-American in the White house but when you get down to it, its still politics as usual. No change on the inside of the people, where it matters the most. And I just find that disappointing.
32Even though I'm a lifelong Democrat, I've always worried about all Americans the deeper the right seeps into ugly tactics, fear mongering and appointing as leaders some of the least qualified, destructive members of the party. It's better for all of us if people like Bobby Jindal who is REALLY SMART take the reigns and help the GOP find a voice that is not divisive and is full of substance and not slogans (OY GOD that winking and hockey mom stuff just rubs me the wrong way when the world is in such disarray). I actually feel hopeful for the first time in a long time that conservatives are speaking out and not blindly following the pack. The Bush years were so destructive but this could be a silver lining. If both parties are filled with strong, smart leadership and bring interesting and fresh ideas to the table - the better for us all.
33"that winking and hockey mom stuff just rubs me the wrong way when the world is in such disarray"
Yes, that stuff is extremely condescending IMO.
34Sarah Palin cost McCain MY vote...
35I would be excited if a third party emerged on the right that favored all of the Republican ideals of government minus the social and religious issues.
36True Song, check out the Libertarian party...they may favor a bit less government involvement than most people really want, but as far as I know they are the only party right now that really embraces conservative ideals.
37TS, that would be AMAZING!!
38There was a portion of Republicans that never liked McCain in the first place, and I'm sure that he has yet to win there vote. I also highly doubt that this portion of Republicans would vote for Obama either. I'm thinking that even though this election is important that there will be people from both sides that just won't vote at all because the choice in each of their respective parties isn't one they can deal with and to cross the "aisle" is even worse.
39I'm pretty familiar with the Libertarians, actually. And you're right, I think they're currently a little extreme to emerge as a real alternative. While I can see why one might wish there were no Federal Department of Education and wish we were still on the gold standard, I don't think immediately implementing those changes now is realistic. But I'd like to see them emerge as more of a force, and I'd like to see the Greens do the same on the left.
40I have to say I'm a native California born and breed, and I'm not affiliated with any political party I vote what is best for me and my community for the most part and that can be anybody but living in Arkansas for 4 years and knowing Huckabee as a governor I have to say that Mike Huckabee as well as Ron Paul I think what got these guys in trouble is there honesty ( many people called it Gaffes etc)which many Americans aren't ready for. I think that Mitt Romney although some Republican liked him would have posed a problem ( his wealth and his religion)for the Neo-Cons and the Independents .
41I meant to say....
Mike Huckabee as well as Ron Paul would have made excellent candidates I think what got these guys in trouble is their honesty ( many people called it Gaffes etc)which many Americans aren't ready for. I think that Mitt Romney although some Republican liked him would have posed a problem ( his wealth and his religion)for the Neo-Cons and the Independents
42"I would be excited if a third party emerged on the right that favored all of the Republican ideals of government minus the social and religious issues."
Are you kidding? That is the Libertarian party.
43Okay, Mich. I would be excited if the Libertarians would emerge as a strong third party with a more palatable version of their current views and minus Ron Paul.
44Well, you've already got the minus Ron Paul part. He's a Republican. But why minus Ron Paul?
45Bob Barr seems like a good candidate for the party.
46Drew Carey described Libertarians as Republicans who still get high. They have their beliefs without being sour pusses.
47LOL @ Republicans that still get high ahahah CLASSIC!
48chatondeneige...a little socialism doesn't bother me. I like to think a nation that we can take care of each. Provide quality health care, education, senior care, etc. to all. Both France and Germany lean heavily on socialist ideals, though me and France have issues for other reasons. When I get out college and if I ever make lots of money it would help me sleep better to know that the rest of my country had higher standards of living.
I go to an expensive private liberal arts college even though I'm poor. The school covers my cost with the full tuition paid by other students and the school runs on grant money. I worked hard to get here, but socialism paid my way. So its ideal yes, but you have to strive toward something positive or where are you going? I think thats what a lot of Dems see in Obama.
49But Ron Paul admitted he ran as a Republican only to get more national exposure by being involved with the primary debates.
Ron Paul, to me, comes across as an extremely grating jackass. Besides that, when he says things like he'd like to immediately eliminate the Departments of Education, Commerce, etc. and supports those who engage in "nonviolent tax resistance," he sounds like he's looney tunes. I certainly respect his right to those opinions, but I don't think he's helping the party gain mainstream acceptance.
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