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McCain staff to White House: Caution, distancing ahead
John McCain’s senior campaign staff and President Bush’s senior White House staff are so close that the McCain folks let the Bush folks know in advance whenever McCain is about to distance himself from the unpopular president, says a top McCain aide.
Case in point, says Charlie Black, was McCain’s criticism last week of Bush’s handling of Hurricane Katrina. “Disgraceful” is how McCain classified it during a New Orleans campaign stop.
“We have an excellent relationship with the White House,” Black told reporters at a Friday lunch. “The senior staffs talk literally every day, sometimes more than once a day.”
“So they realize that from time to time we will disagree with the president on issues. And the important thing is to coordinate and, whenever possible, give them a heads-up about what we are going to say so that they can be prepared for it. They knew that we were going to New Orleans and going to the Ninth Ward and knew what to expect, so I don’t think they were surprised,” Black said.
Comments
By Sue
May 5, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
This is hysterical! McCain is so distant from the Bush admin, that he’s asking first if it’s okay to appear to distance himself and making sure Bush approves the message. What a maverick!
By siri
May 6, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Well, I had about the same comment as Sue. I think she put it better than I would have. It’s NOT a far stretch to see this in an accurate light.
How many will do that is the problem.
By Brian Fraser Southard
May 6, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
McBush=Bush but asks the White House if he can be a LITTLE nasty to separate himself from the current occupant? Does this make sense? With the pictures of them hugging and standing side by side how can WE miss. They are so much alike they could be twins. McBush is getting too old to be president, forgetting things, contiuous gaffes, think senior moments. give us a break.