WASHINGTON – Facing growing dissatisfaction both inside and outside his presidential campaign, Sen. John McCain ordered a shake-up of his team yesterday, reducing the role of campaign manager Rick Davis and vesting political adviser Steve Schmidt with “full operational control” of his bid for the presidency.
Schmidt becomes the third political operative in the past year to take on the task of attempting to guide McCain to the White House. A veteran of President Bush's political operation, Schmidt will be in charge of finding a more effective message in his race against Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, who leads in most public polls.
Schmidt said McCain faces a difficult challenge, given the overall mood of the country, but said he is encouraged by the fact that Obama and McCain remain in a relatively tight race.
“There are 125 days left until the American people will decide the next president,” he said. “Senator McCain is the underdog in the race. We suspect he is behind nationally five to eight points but well within striking distance. I will help run an organization that exists for the purpose of delivering John McCain's message to the American people.”
Schmidt is also expected to abandon Davis' plan to put roughly a dozen regional campaign managers in place around the country.
The abrupt shift in leadership came after weeks of complaints from Republicans outside the campaign and growing concerns within it about the lack of a clear message, the cumbersome decision-making process, the sloppy staging of events and a schedule driven largely by fundraising priorities rather than political necessity.
“There's not a cogent message,” one Republican strategist, who declined to be identified in order to offer a more candid assessment, said yesterday. “They've been attacking Obama every day but it doesn't tie back to an overarching theme that McCain believes in.”
Meanwhile, Obama urged Americans yesterday to look past the “bustle and busyness” of their everyday lives this Fourth of July weekend to find a way to help make the American dream real not just for themselves, but for all.
The call for service is part of a flag-draped week focused on God, country, veterans and freedom. The aim is to introduce Obama to Americans who know little about the presumed Democratic nominee – or who may be skeptical based on what they've heard.
Before a boisterous crowd in Colorado Springs, Colo., Obama said the quiet following tomorrow's Independence Day celebrations would be a good time to consider how to contribute “to our most pressing national challenges,” whether in the military, overseas or just next door.
“I hope that you take a moment to think about what you can do to shape a country we love, shape its future,” Obama said. “Loving your country shouldn't just mean watching fireworks on the Fourth of July.”
