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Will New Plane Be Gain or Pain for McCain?
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ShareJuly 01, 2008 12:45 PM
ABC News’ Bret Hovell Reports: This is not September’s Straight Talk Express. In the fall of 2007, at what John McCain himself describes as the nadir of his presidential bid, the Straight Talk Express was a slightly busted, slightly rusted Eagle motor coach. McCain sat in the back holding court with reporters for hours on end, on everything from the news of the day to whatever college football team happened to be on the TV.
There was less pressure then, and frequently there were no cameras documenting his every move. The campaign relied on McCain’s ability to explain his position fully to the assembled press as a way to get his point across. After a few months on the roads of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, the reporters were writing the McCain comeback story: he had won two of those three states.
Flash forward to today: McCain is going to be the nominee of the Republican Party, unless something unexpected and dramatic happens. The one bus of 2007 has been replaced by a fleet of bigger, sleeker and newer versions. But they are in infrequent use because McCain is flying from place to place.
Enter the Straight Talk Express – Airplane Edition, on which the candidate started flying this week. It’s a Boeing 737 emblazoned with McCain’s name, logo, the words “Straight Talk Express,” and the campaign slogan, “Reform, Prosperity and Peace.”
Click HERE to watch video of the new plane.
Attempts to do regular media availabilities on McCain’s previous plane – an Embraer E190 chartered from the airline Jet Blue – lasted only a few weeks. The lighting was poor for camera use, and reporters had a nearly impossible time crowding around the candidate. Half of the press corps couldn’t hear what he was saying and had to wait for their digital audio recorders to be handed back to them at the end of the meeting to even know what McCain had said.
The new plane is set up for such a conversation. Two captain’s chairs sit on either side of a long couch in a cabin near the middle of the plane. McCain will sit in one (a sign reading “John McCain” and “Straight Talk Express” behind his head) and the press will gather onto the long bench to listen to what he has to say. There are microphones and lights, and there’s a place for a camera tripod – a relief to the sore shoulders of McCain’s traveling camera people.
But the new plane could be a mixed blessing for McCain.
He’ll be able to get his message across, and engage in the longer, more comfortable conversations which he has said he likes. But being constantly “on” could also lead to mistakes: gaffes and slips of the tongue have the potential to increase when more time is spent on the record.
McCain has yet to try out his new plane for its straight talk area – but on a long flight to South America scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, the press expects he’ll break it in.
July 1, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (32)
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Sounds like Mr. Hovell is already spinning on behalf of Sen. McCain, alluding to the possibility of mistakes before they happen... as if we should prepare for them and ignore them...?
Posted by: Champ | Jul 1, 2008 1:06:17 PM
well seeing the straight talk bs bus express didnt work the plane is probabaly filled with more straight talking bs from flip flopping im going to pander the votes and say anything to get elected express!!!
Posted by: angie | Jul 1, 2008 1:28:35 PM
The Real Straight-talker, John Murtha, said that the Presidentcy is no place for an OLD man. mccain is looking older and older every day. There's a good reason pilots have to retire at age 60, they could be dangerous, so we do not want mc-more-war at the controls of this country. Obama 2008!!!
Posted by: pt | Jul 1, 2008 1:33:23 PM
McCain is near the madatory government retirement age, and yet he's hoping to serve for the next eight years... Does anybody else think this is a little troubling.
Posted by: pity | Jul 1, 2008 1:40:43 PM
What is troubling is that we have a candidate that speaks out both sides of his mouth and thinks that he is above reproach and that America should just believe everything and anything he says. Sorry, Obama, face the facts ..... America DOES NOT WANT YOU !!!!
Posted by: David | Jul 1, 2008 2:02:48 PM
Just don't let him fly this one. They don't call him "Crash" McCain for nothing.
Posted by: neo | Jul 1, 2008 2:12:24 PM
This blog is an Obama supporter hate party.
Posted by: geevill | Jul 1, 2008 2:24:48 PM
hey DAVID i live in america and i want OBAMA
Posted by: ANGIE | Jul 1, 2008 2:31:20 PM
hey an embaressed american
where did you get these facts about mccains pow why will john mccain not release his records of his wear time?????
Posted by: ANGIE | Jul 1, 2008 2:36:19 PM
Obama can't light a candle to John McCain.....Obama does not even have a clue to what patriotism is all about!
Posted by: EmbarrassedAmerican | Jul 1, 2008 2:36:19 PM
sorry embaressed american i meant to say why does john mccain not want to release his war records and dont get me wrong i admire and respect john mccain as a war hero but i still think that does not qualify him for potus he has no clue about the economy he even said it but im sorry my president has to at least know about our economy and other issuses not just war!!!!
Posted by: ANGIE | Jul 1, 2008 2:39:22 PM
You, nor Obama, nor any of the Obama supporters have any clue to the hardships McCain endured. I would rather trust my country to a man that sacrificed his life for our freedom, than for an underground senator from Chicago that sat in a church pew for twenty years listening to hateful rhetoric toward America and refused to leave.
Posted by: EmbarrassedAmerican | Jul 1, 2008 2:39:26 PM
i do have love and greatness for this country but because i dont think john mccain is qualified for president it does not make me not love my country get a grip !!!
Posted by: ANGIE | Jul 1, 2008 2:40:54 PM
well thats your right EMBARESSED but dont go around saying people dont love their country or are not patriotic if they dont support mccain thats just ignorant and if john mccain is such a great war hero why does he not support our troops and it doesnt matter how long they stay in iraq in harms way
Posted by: ANGIE | Jul 1, 2008 2:43:46 PM
hey EmbarrasedAmerican
My brother lostr a leg in VietNam and communicates with vets and POWs daily to get them off the streets.
Don't they qualify for McCains short list as Vice President?
Posted by: ProudAmerican | Jul 1, 2008 2:58:48 PM
Sorry EmbarrasedAmerican
the ultimate sacrifice for patriotism was my neighbor burying her only 19 yeay old son who was killed on his 2nd tour of Iraq.....to no fanfare
Posted by: neighbor | Jul 1, 2008 3:04:20 PM
At least McCain is not afraid to take a stand on an issue, popular or not. After the past few days and Obama's constant shift in positions on issues and supporters, McCain is looking better and better everyday.
Posted by: dc | Jul 1, 2008 3:14:31 PM
It's sad that the US is hurting and McCain is flying to Colombia to work on another trade deal.
McCain's top adviser Black has long had lobbyist ties with oil companies and Colombia. Now, McCain is pushing all of these lobbyist ideas onto us.
It's sad that so many people accept the word of McCain as gospel, when that word really comes from a lobbyist.
McCain never cared for religion because every religion frowns upon the way he slept around on his first wife.
Posted by: Debbie | Jul 1, 2008 3:19:55 PM
Wonder if this plane was paid for by McCain's wife?
You know...the one who supported and patiently stood by him...forty years ago...while he was a POW in Vietnam?
Naaah...couldn't be...McCain dumped her when he had his affair with blond trophy-wife Cindy..."The Hundred-Million Dollar Woman".
She must be the one who bought him the shiny new airplane with the fancy paint job.
Posted by: wilder5121 | Jul 1, 2008 3:21:28 PM
Geeez Just don't let him fly it!!! he has already crashed 5 planes, though I am sure Cindi can afford another all those press members with their nose up McCains butt may get injured!
Posted by: thea2b | Jul 1, 2008 3:35:24 PM
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