by Jill Zuckman
Giving donors some of his famous straight talk, Sen. John McCain talked about the odds for Republicans today during a fundraiser in Las Vegas.
Right now, if the election were tomorrow, we Republicans would lose seats in both the House and Senate," McCain said. "That's just a fact. But that's what campaigns are about, that's what campaigns are about, that's why we have them. And I'm confident the restoration of the trust and confidence of our base that we can win. Because, to be very honest with you, I don't think the American people think the Democrats are governing very well in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. So it's not as if they are a shining example of good government."
Still, McCain is well aware that most polls show Sen. Barack Obama in the lead, and some show him with a large lead.
"So how are we doing? There's some polls out that show that Sen. Obama has a substantial lead. There's other polls, including a Gallup poll today, show that we are even," McCain said. "The first lesson I want you to draw is that people are really are not gonna start focusing on the campaign until the conventions. So a lot of this polling data is pretty much, sort of, you know, 'Who do you like?' and all that.
"Americans are gonna try to enjoy the summer but they're not gonna drive as far this summer as they did in previous summers but so they're really probably gonna focus in the conventions," he said. "It's good to see yourself running, for us to be, most polls show us frankly two, three, four points down. That's good for this stage of the game particularly considering the headwind we have on our economy."
McCain, who was at the home of Sig Rogich, the former ambassador to Iceland, and his wife, Lori, has spoken often about the problem with the Republican brand, citing the Bridge to Nowhere as a tipping point for Americans. And he noted that polls show him running well ahead of generic Republicans despite the bad economic times.
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Comments
I've heard there's been talk among some of the establishment Republicans about possibly replacing McCain with a better candidate at their upcoming GOP convention in Minneapolis.
I hope they don't do it, McCain is a terrible candidate. The Dems couldn't ask for a better opponent to run against than him...well, maybe Plastic Mitt Romney.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG_RV6EQFSg
Posted by: John E | June 25, 2008 5:30 PM
I'm betting on Obama.
Posted by: Jimmy The Greek | June 25, 2008 5:43 PM
John's right. Campaigns are about snookering the public.
"Some of the people can be fooled some of the time." Abraham Lincoln said that.
Most of the people can be fooled most of the time. I said that.
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | June 25, 2008 5:50 PM
I see McCain is almost as bad as Bush when it comes to grammar.... "gonna" "gonna" "gonna"...... He is running for President of the USA after all.
Posted by: rupert | June 25, 2008 6:39 PM
Polls don't mean a damn thing. If we received a phone call from a pollster, we hang up. It is not anyone's business who we want to vote for the presidency. Most mature people are like us. It's the kids who love to show up just like on the blogs.
A G E = W I S D O M
A N D K N O W L E D G E.
Posted by: Mary Nugget | June 25, 2008 7:32 PM
Not that I put much credence in polls in June, but since SWAMP only puts polls that have Obama leading by double digits, I'll be the balance:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/108376/Gallup-Daily-Obama-McCain-Tied-45.aspx
Posted by: Terry | June 25, 2008 8:26 PM
So we should believe polls put out by the MSM that swoons over the Cult Of Personality Obama is? Never.
The left wing MSM is so willing to throw our military advancements in Iraq "Under The Bus" as it does and refuses to publish the advances we have made because it will hurt Obamas chances, why the hell would I believe ANY polls about who the winners going to be? Its all Obama propaganda until the voting begins...
Posted by: Reality | June 25, 2008 9:12 PM
Polls don't mean a damn thing. If we received a phone call from a pollster, we hang up. It is not anyone's business who we want to vote for the presidency. Most mature people are like us. It's the kids who love to show up just like on the blogs.
A G E = W I S D O M
A N D K N O W L E D G E.
Posted by: Mary Nugget | June 25, 2008 7:32 PM
Give yourself a pat on the back. Wow. Look I'm middle-aged, educated and would be willing on occasion to take a poll. I also don't just hang up on people. You seem like a republican to me. But as you said it's all about you.
Posted by: Blonde Bombshell | June 26, 2008 12:02 AM
Reality,
Care to share with us the "advancements" made in Iraq? You see in college, you can't get away with making claims and not supporting it with facts. I believe the same is also true in junior high term papers.
Posted by: jo | June 26, 2008 10:30 AM