McCain Maps a Strategy to Woo Reagan Democrats
As the Democrats struggle to select their nominee, John McCain is quietly finalizing his fall strategy. One of his goals will be to attract white working-class and culturally conservative Democrats who supported Ronald Reagan and now have their doubts about the Democratic presidential candidates, especially Barack Obama. This trend was particularly clear in the May 13 primary in West Virginia, where Obama did poorly among such voters. "The Reagan Democrats are in play more than they've been in a long time," says Frank Donatelli, a senior official at the Republican National Committee and former White House political director for Reagan.
McCain is trying to wage a different kind of Republican campaign, walking the tightrope between appealing to the gop's conservative base and attracting swing voters, independents, and conservative Democrats. Another challenge for him is to show his disagreements with the unpopular George W. Bush and at the same time not seem disloyal to the White House. In the coming weeks, McCain plans to emphasize a mixed bag of issues, including the need to control global warming, restrain federal spending, win the war in Iraq with a Reagan-like policy of peace through strength, and keep taxes low. One problem, his critics say, might be the lack of a unifying theme.
As for the opposition, those Reagan Democrats have figured prominently in the campaign of Hillary Clinton as she has tried to catch Obama in the delegate race. Clinton argues that she would unify working-class white voters in a bid to rebuild the winning coalition assembled by her husband, Bill, in the 1990s. Geoff Garin, her chief strategist, says she connects strongly with Americans "who are struggling with this economy" and believe she will fight for them. But Cornell Belcher, a pollster for Obama, says the media's focus on the working-class white vote is overdone. He says Obama is well on his way to creating a new majority coalition that includes not only Democrats of all stripes but independents, centrist Republicans, African-Americans, and millions of new young voters.
Reader Comments
McCain-Palin for poor and middle class
Obama does not know what its like to be poor.Obama is in this election for his own gain mostly his popularity.You should at least know how many states there is he has stated several times he has campaigned in 57 states and has 10 more to go.Where has he been campaigning it must be more than the USA.To be 1st lady you should love your country Michelle has said she has never been proud of her country and the USA is mean.I have always been proud of my country right now I am not to proud of a lot of ctizens who want to vote for Obama.We and Sarah Palin are like the voters in Pa we cling to our guns and religion.I love God and believe in the 2nd amendment we have a right to own guns.Most people would not sit in a church for 20 yrs that taught hate and racism what do you suppose he learned there but hate and racism against whites.If we elected someone with hate for white people what kind of government will that be?Obama wants laws passed for gay marriages and partial birth abortions and your teen could get abortion without you being notified.Marrige is for a man and a woman and i want to know if my teen is laying risking her life and i don't believe in murder.Obama hollows he is a christian he better read his Bible about murder and sexual sins.He knows he can't do the things he promises but just says anything trying to get elected.Lets elected people who love their country and will work for us McCain and Palin is our only choice.I have been voting 40 yrs I voted for Hillary I have always voted democratic Never in that 40 yrs have I voted republican but in November i will for the 1st time vote republican I will vote McCain.We need people in office who love the USA and McCain does.
www.DemocratsforMcCain.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hammonton, New Jersey. July 8, 2008.
A new web site was launched on July 4th with the hope of having a significant impact on this year's crucial Presidential election. The web site, www.DemocratsforMcCain.com, targets Democrats that find Senator Barrack Obama wanting and, more importantly, those Democrats that will be voting for Sen. John McCain come this November.
"We believe that our site will reach out to all of the Democrats for McCain – the Democrats that have the courage to acknowledge that they will cast their vote for John McCain in November," states Frank Pinizzotto, Director of Development, for www.DemocratsforMcCain.com.
"Why Courage? How many Democrats have you spoken to that are willing to admit that their Party Candidate is not ready to take on the office of President of the United States? President Obama? I might vote for him in '16, but not now. Not today. Three years in the Senate makes not a good President of the Free World. I have spoken to a lot of Democrats for McCain, but they have been up until now unwilling to publicly speak out. A new silent majority. A middle class, hard working majority that cannot trust their future to someone so untested. No one can say that John McCain is not ready. He has been tested like no other Presidential candidate in the history of our country," continues Pinizzotto.
"Many Democrats, and Independents alike, feel more comfortable with John McCain. His record of bi-partisanship. His military record. His record in the Senate. People know what they are getting with John McCain. Organizers of DemocratsforMcCain.com hope the site will free up the 'silent McCain majority' and start a real discussion about the qualities that are needed for the next President of the United States."
The site is hoping to reach supporters/volunteers nationwide to help spread the word that it is "okay to support McCain, not matter what you are registered as at the polls", claims Pinizzotto. "Joe Lieberman is just the start of this movement. Once Democrats learn more about John McCain, they will see that he is ready, and ready today, to be President. We think that www.DemocratsforMcCain.com will have an impact on who gets sworn in as the next President of the United States. And that person will be John McCain."
Contact Information:
Frank Pinizzotto
www.DemocratsforMcCain.com
Email: FrankP@DemocratsforMcCain.com
Phone: 610.909.2914 Mobile
RE: REAGAN DEMOCRATS
DEAR REAGAN -
I TRIED TO LOOK UP THE REAGANDEMOCRATS.COM. IT'S NOT THERE. ARE YOU STILL POSTING? ANOTHER IS "REAGAN DEMOCRATS BACKING MC'CAIN "ON THE MC'CAIN BLOG.
ROBERT JONES
advertisement
