NPR: McCain's Top Two Aides Quit Presidential Campaign

McCain's Top Two Aides Quit Presidential Campaign

Sen. John McCain speaks to reporters outside the U.S. Senate chamber today.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

In a blow to an already struggling presidential campaign, Sen. John McCain's top two aides quit today. Reuters reports that the resignations of manager Terry Nelson and longtime chief strategist John Weaver were announced while McCain was defending President Bush's Iraq strategy on the Senate floor.

The New York Times blog The Caucus notes that Weaver's departure is particularly significant because he has long been one of McCain's closest advisers. Weaver was instrumental in pushing McCain to repair relations with religious conservatives in the Republican Party.

McCain's aides say Rick Davis, another longtime adviser, will take over as campaign manager.

NPR's Mara Liasson says these departures signal that McCain is now a second-tier GOP candidate. Jay Carney at Time magazine's Swampland writes that the more critical media coverage McCain has received during this campaign cycle (last time he received almost entirely favorable coverage) has everything to do with his stance on Iraq.

Jonathan Singer writes at the MyDD blog that he thinks the writing is on the wall for McCain. "As if it weren't already apparent, John McCain's presidential campaign is over. Finished. Done. Finito. Dead."

William Wolfrum at Shakesville remembers when McCain seemed "but a few swiftboatings from Karl Rove" away from being the GOP nominee in 2000. But he also believes McCain's campaign is finished.

When you can't poll anywhere near Fred Thompson, and when the Ron Paul juggernaut is breathing down your neck, it's time to exit the stage, and perhaps pay attention to matters in Arizona for a change.

4:05 PM ET | 07-10-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I agree with the previous comment. McCain's ship was sinking as it pulled out of port. Ron Paul has always placed much higher than McCain in active online polls, and "real people" straw polls. I believe this is why McCain and other "top tier" candidates are pulling out of the Ames Iowa straw poll. They don't want to be smoked and left for dead by the undeclared Fred Thompson, and the "bottom tier", "long shot", "fringe", "has no real-world support" Ron Paul. As much as they have tried to believe that Ron Paul's support was only 12 internet savvy computer geeks, they have found that in reality, Paul's real-life support is a very serious force to be reckoned with. A skilled strategist knows to avoid head on confrontation with a superior force if at all possible.

Sent by Paul | 3:06 PM ET | 07-23-2007

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