Key aides resign from McCain campaign
By Charlotte Eby Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Wednesday, July 11, 2007
DES MOINES -- The national campaign manager and chief strategist for Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign resigned Tuesday morning, capping a period of fundraising woes and layoffs for the campaign.
Manager Terry Nelson, an Iowa native, and chief strategist John Weaver made their announcement in a statement released by the campaign but gave no reasons for their departure.
"This morning I informed Senator McCain that I would be resigning from his presidential campaign, effective immediately," Nelson said in a statement. "It has been a tremendous honor to serve Senator McCain and work on his campaign."
A message left for Nelson was not immediately returned Tuesday.
Nelson announced last week he would work on the campaign without pay after McCain's campaign raised $11.2 million for the second quarter.
Dennis Goldford, a professor of politics from Drake University, said recent problems for the campaign aren't necessarily with the senior campaign staff but with McCain himself, who has tied himself to the unpopular war in Iraq and a comprehensive immigration reform measure backed by President Bush.
"It may not be rats leaving a sinking ship yet, but it certainly is something that does not bode well at all for the McCain campaign," Goldford said of the resignations.
In a statement, McCain said he accepted the pair's resignations "with regret and deep gratitude for their dedication, hard work and friendship."
"In the days and weeks ahead this campaign will move forward, and I will continue to address the issues of greatest concern to the American people, laying out my vision for a secure and prosperous America," McCain said.
David Roederer, chairman of McCain's Iowa campaign, downplayed the shake-up in McCain's national organization and said he believed the decision was "mutually agreed upon."
"There's changes made frequently during a campaign and that doesn't change who John McCain is and what John McCain stands for, and he's going to continue to reach out to Iowa voters, and hopefully they will go to the caucuses and vote for him," Roederer said.
In Iowa, the campaign was forced recently to lay off workers, but Roederer said he didn't expect any additional staff changes in the state.
McCain will return to the state later this month, although a firm date has not been set.
Goldford said McCain was attractive to many voters during his previous 2000 presidential campaign because of the perception he was a maverick.
"He, I think, started off this campaign trying to run not as a maverick, but running as the establishment candidate, which in many ways doesn't fit McCain," Goldford said.
His support of the immigration reform measure placed him out of step with many Republicans, Goldford said.
"It's McCain, and then there's everybody else in the party. And, you know, that's like trying to run for chief rabbi in the Vatican," Goldford said.
Charlotte Eby can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.
Manager Terry Nelson, an Iowa native, and chief strategist John Weaver made their announcement in a statement released by the campaign but gave no reasons for their departure.
"This morning I informed Senator McCain that I would be resigning from his presidential campaign, effective immediately," Nelson said in a statement. "It has been a tremendous honor to serve Senator McCain and work on his campaign."
A message left for Nelson was not immediately returned Tuesday.
Nelson announced last week he would work on the campaign without pay after McCain's campaign raised $11.2 million for the second quarter.
Dennis Goldford, a professor of politics from Drake University, said recent problems for the campaign aren't necessarily with the senior campaign staff but with McCain himself, who has tied himself to the unpopular war in Iraq and a comprehensive immigration reform measure backed by President Bush.
"It may not be rats leaving a sinking ship yet, but it certainly is something that does not bode well at all for the McCain campaign," Goldford said of the resignations.
In a statement, McCain said he accepted the pair's resignations "with regret and deep gratitude for their dedication, hard work and friendship."
"In the days and weeks ahead this campaign will move forward, and I will continue to address the issues of greatest concern to the American people, laying out my vision for a secure and prosperous America," McCain said.
David Roederer, chairman of McCain's Iowa campaign, downplayed the shake-up in McCain's national organization and said he believed the decision was "mutually agreed upon."
"There's changes made frequently during a campaign and that doesn't change who John McCain is and what John McCain stands for, and he's going to continue to reach out to Iowa voters, and hopefully they will go to the caucuses and vote for him," Roederer said.
In Iowa, the campaign was forced recently to lay off workers, but Roederer said he didn't expect any additional staff changes in the state.
McCain will return to the state later this month, although a firm date has not been set.
Goldford said McCain was attractive to many voters during his previous 2000 presidential campaign because of the perception he was a maverick.
"He, I think, started off this campaign trying to run not as a maverick, but running as the establishment candidate, which in many ways doesn't fit McCain," Goldford said.
His support of the immigration reform measure placed him out of step with many Republicans, Goldford said.
"It's McCain, and then there's everybody else in the party. And, you know, that's like trying to run for chief rabbi in the Vatican," Goldford said.
Charlotte Eby can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
