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Life, Politics and the Law From ABC News Correspondent Jan Crawford Greenburg
Jan Crawford Greenburg is a correspondent for ABC News' bureau in Washington DC. She covers politics, the Supreme Court and provides legal analysis for ABC News. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago's law school and is a member of the New York bar.
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McCain's "Celebrity" Strategy
July 31, 2008 10:49 AM
McCain's tough new "celebrity" ad campaign, designed to portray Obama as an empty suit who -- like Paris Hilton -- is devoid of substance, is the first part of a broader strategy that ultimately could have ramifications for McCain's VP selection.
The campaign will continue to hit hard that Obama is not an agent of change -- but a man who merely plays to his audience and is unwilling to risk losing his adoring crowds by making the tough decisions. This is only the first volley, sources close to McCain tell ABC News.
There's a bigger point -- and this initial volley, they say, lays the groundwork for it. While seeking to define Obama as "cotton candy," they will be sharpening McCain's message that he, not Obama, is the true change agent--a man who's repeatedly taken unpopular stands, made the hard calls and forged bipartisan alliances.
Part of the calculus now is how his VP choice will further sharpen that message. There is significant support among top McCain advisers that he make a "transformative" pick who would change the Republican Party -- someone who would appeal to moderate Republicans and Democrats.
This pick would be someone who, like McCain, has taken the unpopular stands, made the hard calls and stood firm on principle.
A person who fills that bill, these advisers say, is Joe Lieberman.
Lieberman, an Independent Democrat, flatly denied his interest to ABC's Ron Claiborne earlier this month, but McCain is now seriously considering him as that "transformative" pick, sources tell ABC News.
McCain is close to Lieberman, admires his willingness to stand alone on principle and shares his views that Islamo-fascism is the most serious threat to the nation's future.
What's more, some McCain advisers believe Lieberman would dramatically enhance the point they are now trying to make about Obama in this "celebrity" ad campaign.
McCain and Lieberman are anti-celebrities, the argument goes. They have, as one top adviser said, felt the heat after taking unpopular positions because they were willing to do "what's right for the country" -- whatever it meant for their own popularity.
Tom Ridge also would be that kind of pick -- and he, too, is on McCain's very short list, sources say. As a Republican who was Bush's director of Homeland Security, he is less dramatic than Lieberman. He also ran into some problems at Homeland Security with his masking tape and color-coding system.
But as a moderate pro-choice politician and former Pennsylvania governor, he, too, could make a statement--and open the Party to moderates who now are up for grabs.
And looking at the map, Ridge also could help deliver Pennsylvania -- a state McCain badly needs.
McCain has not decided which route to take. The transformative pick would anger a slice of the base, and he could decide, at the end of the day, to pick the conventional conservative.
That would be Mitt Romney, Minn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty or former Ohio Rep. Rob Portman, sources tell ABC News.
But of those three, only Pawlenty would help with McCain's "change" message.
Romney, a flip-flopper extraordinaire, is vulnerable to the "celebrity" tag himself--and Portman is defined as Bush's budget director.
July 31, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (17)
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Lieberman? Two old white men again. Hardly an exciting ticket for the Repubs. I don't think the conservatives are going to be thrilled with a Lieberman pick.
Posted by: obamamama | Jul 31, 2008 11:03:10 AM
Eight years ago McCain was a nice guy, someone I wanted to win the White House, now he has become a pig in politics. He is the reason we need someone like Obama, someone new. McCain has become more personal against Obama than any other Presidential candidate in American history. I now despise the pig. He does not deserve to be treated with the respect one should give a Presidential candidate. And I despise those who support him. For the record, I have have voted republican for President since voting for Richard Nixon, but I will this time, and I am going to give him lots of money. It is time for change and McCain is demonstrating he is not the one to do it.
Posted by: The Unshrub | Jul 31, 2008 11:07:47 AM
He has nothing to fight with except this crap.He is not the person I want i the White House
Posted by: indp voter | Jul 31, 2008 11:14:15 AM
Sarah Palin, tough on corruption and the most popular govenor in America.
Posted by: s.b. | Jul 31, 2008 11:16:26 AM
correct Jan,
Mccain is the "change my position candidate" because he has flipped on all his maverick positions in the last 3 months to win an electiion
Posted by: watching | Jul 31, 2008 11:25:23 AM
"Eight years ago McCain was a nice guy, someone I wanted to win the White House, now he has become a pig in politics"
You people are so transparent.
Posted by: Mack | Jul 31, 2008 11:26:23 AM
Why is McCain being dishonest with the American voters?
Why does McCain believe that America wants more sleazy Karl Rove / Joe McCarthy tactics?
Maybe we should just call him John McCarthy from now on.
McCain has NO HONOR, NO PATRIOTISM and deserves NO RESPECT.
Posted by: Snarxon | Jul 31, 2008 11:31:03 AM
McCain is the worst thing that can happen for this country. I am sorry! I know people have great respect for the man they followed 8 years ago. He is no longer this man.
Posted by: becky | Jul 31, 2008 11:32:41 AM
"I know people have great respect for the man they followed 8 years ago. He is no longer this man."
Talk about flip-floppers. 8 years ago you loved him and now you hate him. I guess it's because he's now running against the chosen one? Give me a break.
Posted by: Mack | Jul 31, 2008 11:40:29 AM
If McCain is ahead in the polling in some states, that actually will bode well for Obama, as it will further energize the more complacent Obama voters who would otherwise ten to "let the other guy" do the voting. Everyone must realize his or her vote counts and get out there come November. Let's wait until after the V.P. picks, after the conventions, and after the debates. I am certain Obama will pick up a LOT of steam and win the General Election handily.
Posted by: geecee | Jul 31, 2008 11:40:37 AM
You have to admit that there are some similarities between Paris and Barry. They both are famous for who they are, but not for what they've done.
Posted by: Mack | Jul 31, 2008 11:55:14 AM
After months of being puzzled at the popularity of Barack Obama, I’ve finally figured out the Obama Playbook. It consists of 3 main offensive plays, as detailed below. Will Obama’s strategy work? Time will tell . . .
1. The ordinary meaning of words are to be placed in a larger “context” or dismissed as incidents of “misspeaking.” Thus, when ABC broadcasts the tape of Michelle Obama admitting she has never been proud of her country, the Obama campaign dismisses it entirely, claiming she misspoke, and then chides ABC by saying, “to try to distort or to play snippets of her remarks in ways that are unflattering to her, I think, is just low class . . . ” (Of course, when Obama takes Senator McCain’s remarks about being in Iraq for 100 years out of context and mis-characterizes them, we are simply supposed to overlook that).
2. Obama’s associations with crazy people and crooks are to be overlooked. In ObamaWorld, any mention of his terrorist friends, white-hating church, or criminal associations is merely a “distraction” from the real issues, as defined by Barack Obama. Obama’s judgement on Iraq is to be admired. His judgement on other issues is not to be questioned.
3. Accuse the Republicans of racism without actually using the word “racist.” In other words, claim Republicans want people to be afraid of him because he “looks different” or has a “funny-sounding name.” Keep up this line of attack, despite the fact that neither John McCain, his surrogates, nor any member of the national Republican Party has attacked Barack Obama on race.
Posted by: JB | Jul 31, 2008 12:10:58 PM
C'mon Jan. Romney was a governor as well as bailing out the Olympics. He ran an amazing business. He has creds.
Obama is razor thin.
On Iraq -- he's voted against funding the troops and even says he wouldn't support the surge even if knew in advance it would work.
On Judgement -- There's the whole Jeremiah thing.
On Oil -- Obama is against the two easiest ways to make a dent -- nuclear and offshort drilling. Obama even allowed that he didn't mind that gas prices went up although he wished they hadn't gone up "too fast."
On Spending -- Obama wants to spend big by adding almost half a trillion to the budget.
Posted by: Just Oz | Jul 31, 2008 12:30:17 PM
McCain is not only jealous but also angry with Americans for wanting change.
Posted by: alvin | Jul 31, 2008 12:32:34 PM
McCain has no judgment to lead.
1. He is friends with rev. Parsely and Hagee who preache hatred.
2. Showed poor judgment by supporting the worst foreign policy blunder in US history-IRAQ WAR
3. Wanting to start a war with Iran and knowuing nothing about the economy.
4. McCain displays poor judgment in his childish criticisms on Obama. I dont want somebody with a bad temper on the nuclear button.
5. He flip flops on every issue and is also an elitist. He and cindy are out of touch with the common American.
McCain lacks the judgment to lead.
Posted by: Mark | Jul 31, 2008 12:39:28 PM
If Americans thought Bush could be a better president than McCain. Then America ought to think twice before voting for him.
He has shown very poor judgment on numerous occasions.
Posted by: ame | Jul 31, 2008 12:46:44 PM
S.B. nailed it. Sarah Palin should be McCain's choice.
-She cleaned up corruption and turned a deficit into surplus in the state of Alaska.
Oh yeah, and being the first female vice-presidential nominee would help her with the angry Clinton supporters who have swore not to vote for Obama. With her being young I don't see how you could go wrong with a pick like her.
Posted by: Liberal hater | Jul 31, 2008 1:48:36 PM
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