“The Democrats’ worst nightmare?”
Sen. John McCain, campaigns at rally at Pensacola Junior College in Pensacola, Fla., Tuesday. (PHOTO CREDIT: AP)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
John McCain is billing himself as "the Democrats' worst nightmare."
He has a new web ad that claims the Democratic candidates for president are afraid to face him in the general election.
During this week's Democratic debate, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards used McCain's name 15 times. McCain says this is because the Democrats are concerned that he is the only candidate who can rally the conservative Reagan Coalition while appealing to independent voters... ensuring a Republican victory in November. The ad will appear on the web sites of several Florida newspapers.
But, in a nation that's already so divided... it seems like McCain could be going out of his way to alienate a lot of people. After all, it was independents in the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries who helped him win.
Also, it's worth pointing out that Rudy Giuliani aired a radio ad in Iowa back in September calling himself the liberals' "worst nightmare." Not anymore.
Here’s my question to you: Is it a good strategy for any candidate to present himself as the other party's "worst nightmare" in an already divided country?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Giuliani’s gamble?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Rudy Giuliani is slipping in the state considered "crucial" to his presidential chances.
An average of three polls taken in Florida show Giuliani in third place. John McCain and Mitt Romney are neck-and-neck at 27% and 25%. Giuliani is way back at 16%... practically tied with Mike Huckabee, who gets 15%. It's looking more and more like Giuliani's dream of being president is headed for the scrap heap. Two months ago Giuliani was the prohibitive favorite in Florida at 38% to 17% for Mitt Romney and 11% for John McCain.
One pollster is quoted by the Miami Herald saying Giuliani has "virtually no chance to win in Florida." Another says, "If he can't make it there in Florida, he can't make it anywhere." Guess the words of that famous song don't always ring true. And Florida is winner take all…if you don't finish first you don't get a single delegate.
Giuliani's campaign, of course, disputes all this, insisting he'll win. He argues his message just needs a little more time to sink in.
It's really quite stunning. Giuliani was the national front-runner for months. In a decision that strategists will probably talk about for years to come, he chose to virtually ignore the early states. Huge mistake. He goes into Florida 0 for 6 in states that have already voted. And, apparently the people in Florida don't like a loser, either.
If Giuliani loses in Florida on Tuesday, it could be the beginning of a collapse that will go down in history… since he won't have the momentum going into Super Tuesday. You know, kind of like he hasn't had any momentum coming out of Iowa, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Nevada, Michigan or South Carolina.
Here’s my question to you: What went wrong for Rudy Giuliani?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
“Hillary goes negative”?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/images/01/24/art.philly2.gi.jpg caption=" Hillary Clinton accepts endorsement of Pa. Gov. Rendell at Philadelphia City Hall, Wednesday."]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The Clintons "have introduced the politics of personal destruction" to the presidential race and they "bear responsibility for cheapening the tone of the contest."
Some tough words coming from a New York Daily News editorial today, especially considering Hillary is a senator from New York.
The New York Daily News accuses Senator Clinton of "distorting" Barack Obama's record and airing a TV ad that twists an Obama statement "to the point of clear inaccuracy."
"She is indulging in the partisan-style politics that Americans are desperate to leave behind and certainly don't want in a President. And she is either giving free rein to, or failing to control, her husband. Neither possibility bodes well."
The same sentiment is beginning to appear within the Democratic Party. The concern is this bitter campaign could end up hurting whoever the nominee is. If it's Obama - he could come out of this personally battered and politically weakened. If it's Clinton - she could risk losing black voters, who might blame her for Obama's loss and not bother to show up to vote in November.
Here’s my question to you: Will Hillary Clinton's personal attacks on Barack Obama ultimately hurt her and her party?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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