Is John McCain Bringing The Republican Party Down?

At a time when an almost certain global financial crisis is at hand, McCain’s economic message is weak at best. Sarah Palin hasn’t helped there either. Resulting in predicted losses in the Senate in key states such as Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Colorado. The GOP has already pulled ads from the air in Colorado, evidence of a surrender.

The Republican Party is also being challenged with their fundraising efforts. In a time when most Americans can’t imagine spending $150,000.00 on a makeover, the GOP does that and more with Sarah Palin in an effort to polish up her image. This hasn’t set well with donors. The Republican National Committee (RNC) paid for that wardrobe re-do, not John McCain’s 2008 campaign money.

When John McCain began his campaign for the White House, his advisers developed a strategy that would be based on his biography, the war hero who was also a maverick. McCain even went out on a limb and supported legalized immigration, breaking with his party.

That didn’t work either.

With many states facing double digit unemployment and the price of a gallon of gas approaching $5.00 a gallon, most Americans have not been able to make the connection between a maverick who was a war hero, and the loss of a job that may result in the foreclosure of their homes. Especially when this war hero and maverick who isn’t sure how many homes he himself owns.

Instead of this bravado strategy working, it has instead backfired, with the connection lost, and McCain looking like he can’t identify with Middle America.

It’s coming down to a last few days before Election Day, and the Republican Party is facing some strong realities. With limited resources and failing messages, the party is seeking to save the races they can save and sacrifice the ones that are doomed. Maybe the GOP has already conceded the election to “that one” from Illinois.

References: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/23/AR2008102302081.html?nav=rss_print/outlook

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080821/pl_politico/12685