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?
John from Utah writes:
McCain isn't really sounding like someone who can cross the aisle. But then why would he? His party, in general, is more about sticking together than doing much of anything for the American people. There is only one Republican candidate that will represent the American public and the news media has pretty much put him on blackout status. And you all know who I'm talking about.
Luke writes:
I think that McCain is making a huge mistake here. I am a blue-bleeding Democrat, yet I have been more passionate and excited in seeing John McCain's rise from the ashes. Seeing him display himself as the "Democrats’ Worst Nightmare", however, makes me afraid that he just might be another soldier in a partisan battle, and not someone who can actually unite the country.
Carl writes:
The "worst nightmare" candidate, be it McCain or Clinton, is indeed the one that will divide us even more than we have become these past 15 years. This is exactly why we need a "post-partisan" new voice, willing to recognize that we can reach across party lines instead of digging in deeper. Enough already – GO OBAMA.
Wayne from Germany writes:
McCain, the Democrats' worst nightmare? Are you kidding? Our worst nightmare was George W. Bush. Getting an honorable, honest man like McCain after 8 years of Bush is a dream, not a nightmare.
T. from Texas writes:
I wonder if Mr. McCain is staying on Elm Street this week and taking advice from Freddie. Although it is my belief that if the person who is using her husband to play typical filthy politics gets the nomination, then McCain will win in the end as the American people will eventually wake up to reality.
Andy writes:
I think we've had enough of "nightmares" in this country, and even to use that language as a candidate is deliberately divisive. We simply can not afford to continue to drive a wedge down the middle of the country, because that's exactly where the greatest number of people live, metaphorically and politically speaking.