Now that the issue with the fair and balanced New York Times is for the most part behind us, we can look ahead at the general election between John McCain and what is beginning to look more and more like Barack Obama. Things can still change. My personal belief is that if Hillary Clinton wins either Texas or Ohio, she’s staying in until at least the Pennsylvania primary on April 22nd. But since Sen. McCain seems to have decided he’s running against Sen. Obama, that’s good enough for me. Like I mentioned before, it’s the Change vs. Experience erection.
However if there’s one thing the Clinton campaign has shown us, it’s that running on experience against Obama just isn’t enough. If you look at the Wisconsin exit polls, voters who said experience was a factor broke for Hillary 95% to 5%. Obama went on to win that primary by 17%. Personally, I don’t get it. I’m as disillusioned aboot the current administration (and the democratically controlled Congress too, for the matter) as the next guy. However that doesn’t mean I’m ready to vote for a single term senator with no foreign policy experience, no executive experience, and not much of a record of bipartisanship, just because he says the word “change” over and over again and talks pretty sometimes.
So where does that leave John McCain, who doesn’t talk very pretty? Voters have made it relatively clear they aren’t down with “I have more experience” as a message. All that leaves with issues, and as Michael Medved points out, there are stark difference McCain can draw between him and his opponent:
McCain and the GOP can win the election, but only if they draw crisp, unmistakable distinctions on the issues. Voters should face big questions: do you think America will be safer if we surrender to terrorists in Iraq and elsewhere? Do you want to pay more in taxes to pay for a bigger government? Do you want to pay for your neighbor’s health insurance, or is the nation stronger when we emphasize individual responsibility? Do we want more freedom and opportunity or do we need more government supervision and regulation?
If John McCain explains the choices clearly and persuasively, he can win in November. Admittedly it won’t be easy. I can’t see him convincing many of the D’s, but he has a shot at Independent voters once Obama’s new car smell starts to fade. But, only if he sticks to issues. If the election is about personality and biography, all that’s going to do is help the fair and balanced media narrative of the “young guy” vs. the “old guy.”
When you consider Sen. McCain has been preparing most of his life for this one opportunity, his last opportunity, I can’t imagine letting that happen. We’re in for a fight this November.
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Last 5 posts by John Brodigan
- John McCain n' the Hood - April 7th, 2008
- McCain Veepstakes: Fred Thompson?!? - April 7th, 2008
- McCain, Michigan, and the Military - April 2nd, 2008
- Did You Know John McCain was in Vietnam? - March 31st, 2008
- McCain 2008 Veepstakes: Who is...Mitt Romney?!? - March 31st, 2008