Mark Feest is doing all he can to get John McCain elected. Unfortunately, the McCain campaign hasn’t always made that easy. Feest is the chairman of the GOP committee in Churchill County, a rural region of some 26,000 people in northwestern Nevada. Feest complains that the campaign doesn’t seem to understand the nature of rural areas. “Early on, his campaign was sending materials to Las Vegas, hoping we would pick it up,” Feest laughs. “That’s an eight hour drive!”
Feest isn’t alone. As McCain’s plummeting numbers begin to adversely affect down-ticket races across the country, local GOP officials are becoming increasingly frustrated with a presidential campaign they see as a drain on their resources while providing little in the way of support. While the McCain campaign may have imported the take-no-prisoners ethic of the Bush campaign, it seems not to have adopted its ruthless efficiency. Interviews with local GOP chairmen in swing states across the county reveal a campaign unable to capitalize on the enthusiasm of its base, struggling to respond to Obama’s superior resources, and neglecting the basic logistics of outreach. The disconnect between local operatives and the campaign continues to grow as McCain is put on the defensive in an increasing number of states each week.
The most common complaint from local GOP officials is the McCain campaign’s inability to provide adequate campaign materials to local offices. “We’ve only got about 1,000 yard signs so far, and we could have used at least 3,000,” says J. Richard Hornstein, GOP Chairman in Ashtabula County, Ohio. “They’re not being supplied, there’s no literature, there’s very little of anything.” Some local organizations have resorted to printing their own makeshift signs out of desperation. “We’ve gotten nothing in almost a month,” says another GOP county chair in a swing state, who, like many local officials contacted for this article, asked not to be named discussing the campaign’s problems. “It’s been rather embarrassing and hectic.”
Party officials lament that disorganization from the presidential campaign reflects poorly on local efforts. “For a lot of voters, the only contact they have with the party is when they’re trying to get top-of-the-ticket literature,” says Chris Dean, GOP chairman in New Hanover, North Carolina. “We don’t want that to be a negative experience for them.” And when enthusiasm spiked after the Palin nomination, the McCain campaign provided insufficient resources to local offices to enlist these new supporters. “People are almost, I won’t say hysterical, but almost to the point of upset,” says Wayne York, chairman of the GOP organization in Auglaize County, Ohio.
Obama's aggressive ground-game in GOP states has forced the McCain campaign to spread its meager resources even further. "He was doing really well [here]," says a GOP chairman in a newly competitive state, "and, all of a sudden, it's an even race. Does that mean they're going to spend more money here? I don't think so--because there's no money left." The tightening map is only further straining local offices that would rather be worrying about their own races. "We're asked to supply volunteers for the [campaign] to make phone calls," the chairman adds. "But my problem with that is that I'm trying to run my own county organization ... and now I'm being asked for more volunteers, which I don't have." The result is a drain on local coffers: "We're spending our own money, which should be used for the local candidate.”
Beyond material support, local chairmen complain most about the McCain campaign’s ineffective communication and coordination. “[In the national campaign] it doesn’t seem that the right hand knows what the left hand is doing,” says another chairman who requested anonymity. “When we go to plan an event, there might be two people from the McCain campaign replicating everything the other person is doing. You have one person who thinks they’re in charge, but the campaign has contacted a different individual. It has been somewhat bewildering.” As a result, coordinating events is often hurried and frantic. “People buy tickets through the campaign’s website, but they don’t send that information to us,” says another county’s political director.
County chairs cannot help but express their envy of Obama’s organizing efforts. One chairman states flatly that “without a doubt” Obama has far surpassed John Kerry’s effort in 2004. “They didn’t even have an office here last time around,” he says, speaking of a conservative region in which Obama has now matched McCain’s manpower. “If you had told me a year ago that Obama would have an office in Williamsburg, [Virginia] I would have told you [that] you had been drinking too much,'' Ralph Bresler, a Democratic county chair in Virginia, told Bloomberg this week. (McCain aide Mike DuHaime dismisses Obama’s registration efforts by claiming that the McCain effort has been more “surgical.”)
But the most striking comparison for GOP officials is between McCain and Bush. “Bush was better organized,” says Hornstein. “Supplies of materials were better, and there seemed to be more help and communication between local and national parties.” York, the GOP county chairman in Ohio, echoes the frustration of many local officials in saying that the McCain campaign has been forced to respond to events rather than pursue a coherent strategy. “With Bush, we had three-ring binders with the whole battle plan laid out in January,” York says. “With this campaign, there’s no three-ring binder.”
Eric Zimmermann is an editorial web intern at The New Republic.
Print
COMMENTS (15)
During the Republican convention people mocked Obama's community organizing experience, implying that it was irrelevant and valueless. I wonder what they're thinking now.
During the Republican convention people mocked Obama's community organizing experience, implying that it was irrelevant and valueless. I wonder what they're thinking now.
Good writing, Eric-the-intern!
What's funny is that parts of the country have also seen a shortage of Obama literature, signs, and bumper stickers. Here in Santa Fe, we couldn't get yard signs because the local offices - there are two here - were always out. The demand was so strong the campaign couldn't keep up.
I'm sure the McCain campaign wishes they had THAT problem.
Good writing, Eric-the-intern!
What's funny is that parts of the country have also seen a shortage of Obama literature, signs, and bumper stickers. Here in Santa Fe, we couldn't get yard signs because the local offices - there are two here - were always out. The demand was so strong the campaign couldn't keep up.
I'm sure the McCain campaign wishes they had THAT problem.
Reflects badly on McCain's leadership and his ability to lead the country. It gives the impression he will simply replace Bush and Cheney, but will keep the rest of Bush's staff in place! (No foresight)
Reflects badly on McCain's leadership and his ability to lead the country. It gives the impression he will simply replace Bush and Cheney, but will keep the rest of Bush's staff in place! (No foresight)
McCain thought he would win the election merely by repeating, "When I was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam . . . " about ten thousand times. He didn't think he needed a campaign, and when things got tough he thought all he had to do was mimic the surface of Bush's dirty campaigning. He never really understood the relationship between frame and campaign so that, even when he was making headway framing Obama in the summer, he had no idea how to capitalize on it.
McCain's is an exceptionally mediocre mind, lacking even Bush's guile, and he is on the verge of true senility. This is what you get. He is not only totally unfit to be Commander-in-Chief, he is unfit for any job that entails even ... view full comment
McCain thought he would win the election merely by repeating, "When I was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam . . . " about ten thousand times. He didn't think he needed a campaign, and when things got tough he thought all he had to do was mimic the surface of Bush's dirty campaigning. He never really understood the relationship between frame and campaign so that, even when he was making headway framing Obama in the summer, he had no idea how to capitalize on it.
McCain's is an exceptionally mediocre mind, lacking even Bush's guile, and he is on the verge of true senility. This is what you get. He is not only totally unfit to be Commander-in-Chief, he is unfit for any job that entails even a modicum of responsibility. The man is unfit, period. And that's even before we get to his ideology and his total corruption by the hard right. He was shattered by 2000; John McCain is gone. There is only the simulacrum on stage.
Right on. I saw all of these issue way back in the NH. I was actually a little depressed at the NH Primary victory party, becasue I could see what a sucky campaign McCain was running. I am afraid it does not speak well of his ability as an Executive. But please vote for McCain anyway. Obama is a closet communist. His Chicago friends make that very clear to anyone who is willing to look there.
Right on. I saw all of these issue way back in the NH. I was actually a little depressed at the NH Primary victory party, becasue I could see what a sucky campaign McCain was running. I am afraid it does not speak well of his ability as an Executive. But please vote for McCain anyway. Obama is a closet communist. His Chicago friends make that very clear to anyone who is willing to look there.
This is the very 1st time, in like forever, that the Dems actaully had more money to spend than the GOP. Here in Cincinnati for the 2000 election Gore did not have a single campign storefront during the entire campaign. On election day our Dem Party get out the vote effort consisted entirely of standing on freeway overpass bridges holding up Gore signs for passing drivers to see. I don't believe that Gore spent any money in Ohio statewide at all and subsequently lost by 4 points. Kerry spent a bit of money here in 2004, but nowhere near as much as Bush and he also lost, but by only 1 point.
In 2008 Obama has blanketed Ohio to register new voters and has gone all out win the state, which has c ... view full comment
This is the very 1st time, in like forever, that the Dems actaully had more money to spend than the GOP. Here in Cincinnati for the 2000 election Gore did not have a single campign storefront during the entire campaign. On election day our Dem Party get out the vote effort consisted entirely of standing on freeway overpass bridges holding up Gore signs for passing drivers to see. I don't believe that Gore spent any money in Ohio statewide at all and subsequently lost by 4 points. Kerry spent a bit of money here in 2004, but nowhere near as much as Bush and he also lost, but by only 1 point.
In 2008 Obama has blanketed Ohio to register new voters and has gone all out win the state, which has caused the GOP to squeal in protest like stuck pigs, as they have to finally experience the feeling of having been out-organaized and beaten like a drum for grass roots campaign contributions.
Across the river in Kentucky GOP Sen McConnel has led the fight against public financing for years and won every time. His party is a bit too late to now be crying about the opposition not taking public funding this year. They have nobody to blame for their current financial woes but themselves and they richly deserve the election beating they are going to get this year.
I believe that when it is all said and done, and if Obama wins this election, that it will rest firmly on his organization. The GOP likes to blame it on the money factor alone but the Obama Campaign has been working this angle since the beginning.
I believe that when it is all said and done, and if Obama wins this election, that it will rest firmly on his organization. The GOP likes to blame it on the money factor alone but the Obama Campaign has been working this angle since the beginning.
The GOP has been a haven for cheats, frauds, liars and amoral smear merchants for a couple of decades now. Any surprise that campaign donations haven't actually bought a campaign? McCain's press people have declared that his rallies have been small because the campaign can't afford security checks of arriving spectators. Now that's a mismanaged budget! Maybe the Nevada lawnsign budget was tapped for Palin's make-up and wardrobe. But it could have paid for off-the-books rent on some consultant's condo. They wouldn't dare audit the campaign--and have failed to pursue details of the audit of the party that discovered millions stolen--because of the avalance of bad publicity that would res ... view full comment
The GOP has been a haven for cheats, frauds, liars and amoral smear merchants for a couple of decades now. Any surprise that campaign donations haven't actually bought a campaign? McCain's press people have declared that his rallies have been small because the campaign can't afford security checks of arriving spectators. Now that's a mismanaged budget! Maybe the Nevada lawnsign budget was tapped for Palin's make-up and wardrobe. But it could have paid for off-the-books rent on some consultant's condo. They wouldn't dare audit the campaign--and have failed to pursue details of the audit of the party that discovered millions stolen--because of the avalance of bad publicity that would result from the findings.
My GOP has lost my vote. MCCAIN...loser PALIN...joke W...the man who dug a hole from which we cannot climb
UNITER? COMPASSIONATE? we have become a joke--- and i have decided to migrate to the centrist road of the democrats party...
see you at the races
My GOP has lost my vote. MCCAIN...loser PALIN...joke W...the man who dug a hole from which we cannot climb
UNITER? COMPASSIONATE? we have become a joke--- and i have decided to migrate to the centrist road of the democrats party...
see you at the races
MCCAIN/PALIN cannot even lead their CAMPAIGN STAFF
and I know Sarah can see the Campaign Office from Alaska.
MCCAIN/PALIN cannot even lead their CAMPAIGN STAFF
and I know Sarah can see the Campaign Office from Alaska.
Errr. Second paragraph, last sentence? Dear Capt McCain is on the DE-fensive, yes?
I refuse to believe that the campaign is badly run because McCain is incompetent. Campaign management is a specialized art; would you feel he was badly managing the campaign because the food at his receptions was bland? His people have all run excellent national campaigns in the past. Nor is it just money; he's being out-spent but he doesn't have any less money than Bush did in 2004. I think...with no data behind me at all...that his base is just plain tired. Sure, he has a lot of screaming loonies, but screaming loonies aren't all that good at knocking on doors or running phone banks. I think the heart of the ... view full comment
Errr. Second paragraph, last sentence? Dear Capt McCain is on the DE-fensive, yes?
I refuse to believe that the campaign is badly run because McCain is incompetent. Campaign management is a specialized art; would you feel he was badly managing the campaign because the food at his receptions was bland? His people have all run excellent national campaigns in the past. Nor is it just money; he's being out-spent but he doesn't have any less money than Bush did in 2004. I think...with no data behind me at all...that his base is just plain tired. Sure, he has a lot of screaming loonies, but screaming loonies aren't all that good at knocking on doors or running phone banks. I think the heart of the party...those with money, brains, and judgment...are sitting this one out. Not all, not even most...but enough to make a difference.
I'm waiting for the post-game analysis. Should be fun.
I also read that Obama had the wisdom to either hire or consult with George Lakoff, who has written extensively on "framing" the debate and how Bush walked all over the opposition because his framing predominated.
VERY smart move by Obama, it speaks well to his ability to understand what WORKS in communicating to people.
I have always been impressed by Obama's speeches. He said something at the Alfred E. Smith dinner that I wrote down:
We are a community; we share a country; we are all children of God.
I also read that Obama had the wisdom to either hire or consult with George Lakoff, who has written extensively on "framing" the debate and how Bush walked all over the opposition because his framing predominated.
VERY smart move by Obama, it speaks well to his ability to understand what WORKS in communicating to people.
I have always been impressed by Obama's speeches. He said something at the Alfred E. Smith dinner that I wrote down:
We are a community; we share a country; we are all children of God.
Sorry about the troubles; but then again, it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of folks.
Sorry about the troubles; but then again, it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of folks.
Students of politics are going to study and appreciate Obama's campaign for many years to come. If his organization is an indication of how he will govern, we are in for many good experiences.
Students of politics are going to study and appreciate Obama's campaign for many years to come. If his organization is an indication of how he will govern, we are in for many good experiences.
McCain wants to be president because he wants to be president. Just one of the many problems that have made his campaign such a mess. But it is being compounded by the increasingly toxic Palin Effect and by his campaign's lack of organization and planning.
Obama had a tougher time with Hillary Clinton than he's having now.
McCain wants to be president because he wants to be president. Just one of the many problems that have made his campaign such a mess. But it is being compounded by the increasingly toxic Palin Effect and by his campaign's lack of organization and planning.
Obama had a tougher time with Hillary Clinton than he's having now.