Friday, August 25, 2006
Sen. John McCain Hires Howard Dean Campaign Vet
In a move that’s drawn criticism from both the left and right, Sen. John McCain has added a veteran of Democrat Howard Dean’s presidential campaign to his team of advisers.
The hiring of Internet guru Nicholas Mele has sparked speculation about the ideological direction the Arizona Republican might take in a 2008 run for the White House.
McCain has also added a former Bush administration State Department official, trade negotiator Robert Zoellick, and both Mele and Zoellick confirmed that they plan to advise McCain as he explores the possibility of a presidential run, the New York Sun reports.
"I have long admired Sen. McCain's work on campaign finance reform and his independent streak," Mele wrote on his blog. "This is a personal decision for me based on my own first-hand experience. I like Sen. McCain – I think he should be president!"
Mele's move raised eyebrows because of his prior ties to Dean, who represented the Democratic Party's left wing in the 2004 race and is now chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
At RedState.com, Erick Ericson said the hiring of Mele indicated that McCain might attempt an independent bid for the White House.
"At the end of the day, John McCain and his newfound friends on the left might win the media primary, but they will have a hard time winning a Republican primary," Ericson wrote.
Perhaps tellingly, Mele’s Internet marketing firm EchoDitto, whose clients include the Air America radio network, issued a statement saying: "We do not now, nor will we in the future, support Republican campaigns.”
The hiring also drew a skeptical reaction from left-leaning commentators.
A writer for the Nation magazine's blog, Ari Berman, wrote that Mele may wind up disenchanted: "Mele and other Democrats tempted to follow his lead should realize that the straight talking McCain of 2000 is not the Bush-coddling McCain who wants to win in 2008."
Zoellick, who stepped down as deputy secretary of state in July, said he was asked to join the McCain team to bolster his stable of economic advisers, according to the Sun.
He was an adviser to the Republican presidential campaigns in 1988 and 2000.
In a move that’s drawn criticism from both the left and right, Sen. John McCain has added a veteran of Democrat Howard Dean’s presidential campaign to his team of advisers.
The hiring of Internet guru Nicholas Mele has sparked speculation about the ideological direction the Arizona Republican might take in a 2008 run for the White House.
McCain has also added a former Bush administration State Department official, trade negotiator Robert Zoellick, and both Mele and Zoellick confirmed that they plan to advise McCain as he explores the possibility of a presidential run, the New York Sun reports.
"I have long admired Sen. McCain's work on campaign finance reform and his independent streak," Mele wrote on his blog. "This is a personal decision for me based on my own first-hand experience. I like Sen. McCain – I think he should be president!"
Mele's move raised eyebrows because of his prior ties to Dean, who represented the Democratic Party's left wing in the 2004 race and is now chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
At RedState.com, Erick Ericson said the hiring of Mele indicated that McCain might attempt an independent bid for the White House.
"At the end of the day, John McCain and his newfound friends on the left might win the media primary, but they will have a hard time winning a Republican primary," Ericson wrote.
Perhaps tellingly, Mele’s Internet marketing firm EchoDitto, whose clients include the Air America radio network, issued a statement saying: "We do not now, nor will we in the future, support Republican campaigns.”
The hiring also drew a skeptical reaction from left-leaning commentators.
A writer for the Nation magazine's blog, Ari Berman, wrote that Mele may wind up disenchanted: "Mele and other Democrats tempted to follow his lead should realize that the straight talking McCain of 2000 is not the Bush-coddling McCain who wants to win in 2008."
Zoellick, who stepped down as deputy secretary of state in July, said he was asked to join the McCain team to bolster his stable of economic advisers, according to the Sun.
He was an adviser to the Republican presidential campaigns in 1988 and 2000.
