Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008
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FROM THE TRAIL
McCain Defends, But Amends, Pointed Attacks
Campaign Walks Thin Line In Trying To Criticize Obama While Toning Down Pugnacious Rhetoric
Campaign 2008From The Trail
NBC/National Journal embed reporters file regular dispatches on their experiences from the trail.
Previously in this series:
• Obama Keeps Mum On Potential Spending Cuts (10/14/08)
• Biden Aims To Seal The Deal In Pennsylvania (10/14/08)
Read The Entire Series
BLUE BELL, Pa. -- The past two weeks have seen the McCain campaign at its most aggressive, labeling Barack Obama as "risky," calling his response to criticism an "angry barrage of insults" and suggesting that his "refusal" to answer questions is a sign that he is too unknown to be president. That's not to mention the repeated references to Obama's relationship with William Ayers, a former leader of the radical anti-war group the Weather Underground.
Although campaign advisers insist that these comments are not intended to frighten voters, it's not surprising that after listening to such accusations a young father might be "scared" of Obama, as one man in Minnesota told John McCain last week. Yet when the Arizona senator heard the man's remarks -- just one of many questions critical of Obama at the Minnesota town hall -- he seemed taken aback.
"I want to be president of the United States and obviously I do not want Senator Obama to be, but I have to tell you -- I have to tell you, he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared as president of the United States," McCain answered.
In so doing, McCain seemed to be undercutting a key aspect of his campaign's message -- that Obama is a risky choice. The McCain campaign has worked hard to sow the seeds of doubt and trepidation in the minds of undecided voters, but when the candidate saw the fruits of the campaign's labor echoed back to him by town hall audiences, his tone changed.
"We want to fight and I will fight, but we will be respectful," McCain said to another questioner at the same event. At the suggestion that they should respect Obama, the crowd starting booing, and McCain was forced to try to dial back their emotions once again.
But there are some attendees who have not been totally respectful, and they are the ones getting all the attention. These supporters, and the school of thought within the party that McCain should go after Obama aggressively, put the campaign in a difficult situation: Attacking without getting nasty. They must fight hard enough to satisfy supporters while remaining respectful enough to satisfy the editorial boards.
"If you compared the rhetoric of Barack Obama on a daily basis with the rhetoric of John McCain and Sarah Palin, you'll find that our rhetoric pales in comparison to what Barack Obama says about John McCain every day," campaign manager Rick Davis said.
"I know there are similar instances occurring in Obama rallies," he continued. "They just don't get the kind of attention I guess that the ones that happen at our rallies do. So look, I don't think it's that big a deal."
This week, McCain rolled out more new language on the stump in which he admitted that with 22 days to go, the "national media has written us off." Although he pledged to fight, the new speech was less pointed than McCain's previous attempts to shake up the race. His attacks on Obama were mainly policy-based, and the only questions McCain raised were about the future of the country, not Obama's character or preparedness.
But while shifting away from personal attacks, McCain also tried to address his supporters' concerns that he wasn't fighting hard enough. "Don't give up hope," McCain told a crowd of roughly 15,000 in Virginia Beach on Monday. "Be strong, have courage and fight. Fight for a new direction for our country. Fight for what's right for America. Fight to clean up the mess of corruption, infighting and selfishness in Washington."
He also turned to counter criticisms that his campaign has become too negative, excoriating Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., for his statements comparing the McCain camp's tone with segregationist George Wallace's as Alabama governor.
"To somehow intimate that the overwhelming majority of those people, with rare exception, are somehow not good Americans or are motivated by anything but the most patriotic motives is insulting, and I won't accept that insult," McCain said in an interview with CNN.
In a speech announcing his new economic plan on today, McCain told his supporters that he was "going to Washington to fight for you."
"We have to change direction now," he said. "We have to fight."
But in trying to stay respectful -- and trying not to get mean -- McCain may never be able to fight hard enough to satisfy some of his more passionate supporters.