McCain campaign strategy: Go nu-cular or go nice?
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He says for the remainder of the campaign, McCain and Palin should go out and be accessible and cheerful. "The two of them are attractive and competent politicians," he writes. "They’re happy warriors and good campaigners. Set them free."
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Go Nu-cular
If they go the happy approach, they should tip off the state parties to that strategy. That means don't compare Barack Obama to Osama Bin Laden.
Speaking to volunteers this past weekend, Virginia party chairman Jeffrey Frederick linked the two together:
"Both have friends that bombed the Pentagon," he told volunteers before a day of canvassing neighborhoods. "That is scary."
What's more scary is the thinking that this could win over the undecideds.
No name calling
Ed Rollins, Ronald Reagan's political director, says McCain must take the level of discussion to a higher level. Forget the attacks and use a modified version of Clinton's 1992 mantra: "It's the economy, stupid!" Says Rollins, the motto should be: "You morons, what have you done with my money, my life and my kids' future?"
"All I can advise is 'Engage us, John!' You are an honorable man who has dedicated your life to serving this country. Quit the name calling and make the last weeks about leadership and solutions," writes Rollins.
"Accept Obama's challenge issued last week: 'The American people aren't looking for someone who can divide this country. They're looking for somebody who will lead this country,' he continues. "Tell us how you will lead this country through the greatest crisis we have faced in modern times."
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy
Night after night, FOX News commentator Bill O'Reilly gives very specific advice on how McCain can win. He's got to identify Rudy Giuliani now as his prospective Attorney General. In announcing the appointment, McCain should describe Giuiliani's mission. It's not a kumbaya approach.
"Tomorrow morning he should get up and say,'Rudy Giuliani is my new attorney general. And mandate is to prosecute every SOB on Wall Street and investigate Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Chris Cox, and everybody else in the government who failed to provide oversight and all the lobbyists for all of these brokerage houses and banks. Here's Rudy. He's going to do it. And here's Mitt Romney. He's secretary of Treasury. And Romney is going to help turn the economy around. Now, I'm going to go out on the stump, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney. We're cleaning up Dodge City.'"



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