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McCain Sees Victory in Romney Loss
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ShareJanuary 03, 2008 11:02 PM
ABC's Ron Claiborne reports: In Manchester, NH tonight, as Sen. John McCain entered the room for his final campaign event of the day, a crowd of about 50 supporters burst into applause. McCain wore a jubilant smile. It felt very much like a victory party except for one thing. He hadn't won anything.
In fact, as the final caucus were still coming in, McCain was running 4th in the Iowa Caucus returns, just behind former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson.
In recent days, even though it had not campaigned heavily in Iowa and focusing instead on New Hampshire, McCain's campaign had quietly been shooting for third place in the Buckeye State -- preferably a strong third -- and it was falling well short.
But Iowa had delivered another kind of win for the McCain campaign. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had been beaten by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, depriving Romney not just of a win in a state in which he'd invested a lot of time and money, but of momentum going into New Hampshire's primary next week.
"The lesson (of Iowa) is one that you can't buy an election in Iowa and negative campaigns don't work," McCain said. "They don't work there in Iowa and they don't work here in New Hampshire."
McCain wasn't just analyzing the race, he was calling attention to what he knows is coming.
A McCain aide said they are bracing for an even nastier battle with Romney in New Hampshire. Romney has already unleashed a series of television ads attacking McCain over taxes and immigration.
McCain said he would not rebut every Romney attack tit-for-tat, but a campaign aide softened that stance, saying McCain would simply "respond."
On the Democratic side, Senator Barack Obama's victory in the Iowa Caucus could complicate matters for McCain in New Hampshire.
Many independent voters -- a key McCain bloc in his 2000 primary victory here -- may swing to the Democratic side of the voting, perceiving this as the moment to join the Obama bandwagon rolling east out of Iowa.
With the New Hampshire primary just days away, McCain has abandoned some of his usual caution. Normally, he refuses to play what he calls the expectations game.
But asked Thursday night if he expected to win in the Granite State on Jan. 8th, he said: "Expect? We will win."
January 3, 2008 in McCain, John, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (8)
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In graf 3, "third place in the Buckeye State"... um, Iowa is the Hawkeye State. Ohio isn't even voting for months.
Posted by: jb | Jan 3, 2008 11:09:16 PM
Since the Iowa primary is basically a public relations primary and since historically, very few if any winners in the Iowa primary actually win the nomination or the Presidency, I hardly believe McCain or anybody can predict victory as a result of it. Romney might still win the nomination and McCain might be dropping out soon.
Posted by: jfm125 | Jan 3, 2008 11:13:48 PM
Or, jfm125, Romney may indeed have to seriously look at a loss in New Hampshire followed closely by a loss in Michigan as a signal that Americans don't want a polished up doll for leader.
Celebrate with Huckabee tonite, then look to the real start in New Hampshire, where John McCain's surge becomes reality.
Posted by: Daltonsbriefs | Jan 4, 2008 1:15:19 AM
Do people living in Ohio know that THEY are no longer the Buckeye State? I trust this writer, who doesn't believe in facts and only offers personal opinions, as much as I trust Al Gore, the inventor of the internet.
Posted by: Marv Johnson | Jan 4, 2008 2:14:05 AM
How does calling Iowa the "Buckeye State" even make it to press?! This is typical of the MSM and their capability of reporting anything without really checking their "facts." Get a clue, ABC News!
Posted by: Ben Bursae | Jan 4, 2008 7:39:28 AM
Romney cant buy the office for him and the oligarchy.
Vote Honor - Vote McCain
Posted by: RickyMikey | Jan 4, 2008 10:02:11 AM
Somebody tell McCain that we set retirement ages at 62 or 65 or so for Social Security for a reason. Tell the 71 year old to go fish or hunt or see his grandchildren while he can.
Posted by: daddyblue | Jan 4, 2008 12:07:53 PM
Im a diehard republican but i will never vote for huckabee. My vote goes to Obama if he wins.
Posted by: S Gillette | Jan 4, 2008 9:36:11 PM
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