Will New Plane Be Gain or Pain for McCain?

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Will New Plane Be Gain or Pain for McCain?

July 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 The one bus of 2007 has been replaced by a fleet of bigger, sleeker and newer versions.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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I wish McSame was still a POW. Get over it people, he's so old! I could give a crap less about him.

Posted by: Daniel | Jul 1, 2008 3:40:45 PM

Watching,
I am paying attention, which is why I won't vote for Sen. Obama. There is nothing wrong with switching positions as factors change, which is much different than trying to straddle the fence constantly to avoid taking a position that can be held against you in an election. Sen. Obama usually avoids actually voting on anything that may come back to haunt him later, or, he blames it on his staffers. It's also much more politically expedient to say what he would have done rather than be accountable for an actual vote. Ex: he still denies he had any knowledge of his questionnaire stating his stance on gun control, even though notes with his handwriting on it were written on it. Please don't lecture me on paying attention, Sen. Obama was my home state Senator and I don't recall him doing anything striking in Illinois except for his friends and associates in Chicago. He only got elected because he was able to get his competition disqualified to run. If more people would have paid attention to his actual record and qualifications for President and not just his charisma, he probably would not be the nominee. (Also, I base my reasons on facts, not on calling the other candidates names or making fun of his age as so many Obama supporters tend to do.)

Posted by: dc | Jul 1, 2008 4:03:38 PM

I would only hope every Senator would be for drilling oil in the US.

Obama did not vote when the Senate was condemning the anti--Petraeous ad. A little late to be distancing himself from that. another attempt to take credit where credit is not due.

Posted by: geevill | Jul 1, 2008 4:16:20 PM

Funny how the US economy always TANKS whenever Republicans get their hands on it. They're as bad at running an economy as they are at waging war.

More of the same with George W McCain?

America says HELLNO!!!

Posted by: wilder5121 | Jul 1, 2008 4:27:23 PM

Clearly a person who can afford a new Boeing 737 plane should be the one to lead our country of mostly middle class and impoverished people. Obama definitely deserves the credibility here - McCain obviously can't connect with the people. Indeed, he -doesn't- know what it's like.

Posted by: Ethan | Jul 1, 2008 4:29:37 PM

only Senator Clinton is capable of being the best President that our children, our troops and our country so desperately needs right now

Posted by: chris | Jul 1, 2008 5:54:08 PM

Hey Chris,

You should write in HRC's name on the ballot. The rest of us have already moved on.

Posted by: Cynthia | Jul 1, 2008 6:09:46 PM

Nice Ride. Where did he get the money?

Posted by: Bob_W | Jul 1, 2008 6:10:51 PM

You blithering idiots!!Of course Mccain has no insight into the economy.

Neither does obama. These are politicians who are only good at raising money and pandering. Get a grip people...

Posted by: jack | Jul 1, 2008 7:47:22 PM

Everyone can see how frail John Mccain appears coming down the ramp of his new straight talk express.
John McCain is embarking on a long and tiring journey -not only flying around the country, but flying around the world,now down to South America, and across the atlantic, moving in and out of different hemispheres. The man is old. Why doesn't someone speak to him?

Posted by: exatlantic | Jul 2, 2008 1:28:50 AM

I guess his 2nd..rich wife must have paid for his plane...she is so rich but she doesnt even trust him to handle her money. If she doesnt trust him, why should we?? I wonder how his first wife is doing?? How she feels getting left in the cold after waiting so long for him to come home. While he was a POW he MISSED everything that happened to America during that time...all the unrest...he doesnt understand what America has gone through because he was busy crashing his 4th plane. I used to see him as a hero, but the more I get to know him, the less I like him...I wish I didn't get the heebee-jeebee's when I hear him talk. HE IS AN ANGRY MAN!! RELEASE YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS, JOHN MCCAIN, THE ONES TO DO WITH YOUR MENTAL HEALTH!! Watch and see if he does...bet ya 20 dollars he wont!

Posted by: BO | Jul 2, 2008 1:48:40 PM

These are John McCain's own words spoken on msnbc.com:

“I didn’t really love America until I was deprived of her company.”

See the video for yourself at:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/06/22/mccains-unpatriotic-words-caught-on-tape/

Now, we see that Michelle Obama is just as patriotic as John McCain. Anyone who denies this after seeing it with their own eyes is denying reality.

Posted by: caliguy55 | Jul 2, 2008 3:12:14 PM

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