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McCain Adviser Won't Fight Obama
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ShareFebruary 13, 2008 6:48 PM
ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: On Wednesday, a top adviser to John McCain said more definitively than he has in the past that he will step down from the Arizona senator's presidential campaign if the presumed GOP nominee faces Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in the general election.
"I would simply be uncomfortable being in a campaign that would be inevitably attacking Barack Obama," said McCain adviser Mark McKinnon in an interview with NPR's "All Things Considered." "I think it would be uncomfortable for me, and I think it would be bad for the McCain campaign."
McKinnon, who was a Democrat before serving as President Bush's ad maker in 2000 and 2004, said that he plans to be behind McCain "100 percent" no matter who the Democratic nominee is. He explained, however, that if the Democrats nominate Obama, he will be supporting McCain "from the sidelines."
While saying that he does not agree with Obama on every issue, McKinnon gushed about the Illinois Democrat.
"I met Barack Obama, I read his book, I like him a great deal," said McKinnon. "I disagree with him on very fundamental issues. But I think, as I said, I think it would a great race for the country."
Audio of McKinnon's NPR interview is available here.
February 13, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (268)
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McCain needs to fire Mark McKinnon now. He proves himself unreliable. He is a Democrat and will vote that way no matter what he says now
Posted by: Byron Kendrick | Feb 13, 2008 7:02:48 PM
Wow, that is sad when your own advisers don't back you...Too funny!!!!!
Posted by: hahahaha | Feb 13, 2008 7:06:38 PM
Might be a little premature, Byron. Clinton still might come back to win the nomination, and Mark McKinnon doesn't seem to have any qualms campaigning against her.
Posted by: Paul | Feb 13, 2008 7:08:18 PM
Wonder if Obama has some secret McCain admirers? Well, they are not so secret. Big hint...Ted Kennedy
Posted by: craig | Feb 13, 2008 7:09:05 PM
This piece must be a trick, planted by Democrats to ### off Republicans.
The guy used to be a Democrat, he "supports McCain 100% ...etc" BUT if the Dem Nominee is Barack Hosein Obama, he thinks it would be " bad for McCain.."
Posted by: Roy Guscott | Feb 13, 2008 7:17:35 PM
Looks like a Obama/McCain 08 Ticket! They're both libs, so why not?
Posted by: Jodeo | Feb 13, 2008 7:17:53 PM
These people are gushing about a man who is saying absolutely nothing, but saying it very well. Obama needs to be revealed for what he is, vapor. His veneer is actually very thin, and the Repubs (and the country) need a candidate and a team than can carefully expose him on substance.
Posted by: Andy | Feb 13, 2008 7:18:26 PM
Brilliant move...whatever support Hil had left will evaporate when this gets out! The race against BHO may prove tough, but right now the important thing is to inoculate this country against Clintosis.
Posted by: socal_dirk | Feb 13, 2008 7:19:45 PM
This isn't a surprise. McKinnon announced he was going to do this months ago if Obama became the nominee, and told McCain of this directly from the start, and McCain was fine with it. McKinnon was upfront about this with McCain from Day One and McCain still wanted him to do his media for the primary campaign.
Posted by: Ron | Feb 13, 2008 7:20:38 PM
I notice Senator McCain surrounds himself with people that think like him. Remember, the senator said that he thought Hillary would make a great president. We can't be sure that he is going to vote for himself.
Posted by: quantumfoam | Feb 13, 2008 7:20:38 PM
The real shock is there's someone working for McCain with a conscience. D.
Posted by: David G. | Feb 13, 2008 7:21:04 PM
No one is better at saying nothing than Obama...no one. John needs to be sure to dump all the girlie boys right away. If you can't fight...get out. Polical correctness means trying to pick up a turd by the clean end. Enough already.
Posted by: Leif W. Jensen | Feb 13, 2008 7:22:42 PM
McKinnon is McCain's paid message guy. To say Obama's candidacy is not good for the campaign is not a good message. Hopefully, McCain will fix this fast.
Posted by: PaulKirk | Feb 13, 2008 7:22:46 PM
Fire the bum before he does anymore damage! What a disgrace!
Posted by: John | Feb 13, 2008 7:22:58 PM
Sounds like Marky Mark wants to be on the winning team. It's the political equivalent of the floating resume. Keep me in mind, Barack!
Posted by: MileHighVoter | Feb 13, 2008 7:24:51 PM
This is the eessential problem with McCain supporters -- they are weak Democrats/weak Republicans. McCain needs to take hold of his ship and can/fire McKinnon for his ambiguous comments.
Posted by: Where's the unslanted NEWS??? | Feb 13, 2008 7:24:52 PM
My bet is that this guy has said something racial in the past and he doesnt want it to come back and bite mccain.
Posted by: Gizmoduck | Feb 13, 2008 7:25:47 PM
This is just the beginning of the Obama landslide. Stay tuned.
Posted by: MARTIN EDWIN "MICK" ANDERSEN | Feb 13, 2008 7:25:56 PM
Hahaha, where in the article did it say his advisor wasn't backing him?
Posted by: Rick | Feb 13, 2008 7:26:19 PM
That makes no sense. I like Obama too, and disagree with him on fundamental issues as well. Therefore I would work to beat him in November in preference for a candidate that better shares my values. Exactly what is driving Mr. McKinnon's decision here? Sounds like he really doesn't believe in McCain after all. He needs to be let go, post haste.
p.
Posted by: paul b. | Feb 13, 2008 7:29:03 PM
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