According to Downey and Daschle, a McCain staffer, Tom Weaver, came to them and asked why they hadn't approached McCain about switching parties shortly after the 2000 election, and things developed quickly from there:
Daschle said that throughout April and May of 2001, he and McCain "had meetings and conversations on the floor and in his office, I think in mine as well, about how we would do it, what the conditions would be. We talked about committees and his seniority ... [A lot of issues] were on the table."Naturally, McCain denies it. Reading the whole article, there appear to be a lot of small nuances to this, including some differences between a Daschle staffer and Daschle himself.It seems to me that there are two possibilities, both of which are extremely interesting. First is that McCain really did negotiate to leave the GOP but either thought better of it, or couldn't reach a deal. If true, it's going to deep-six his campaign forever and for good. GOP voters will not elect someone who negotiated to give control of the senate to the Democrats for personal gain (like committee assignments).
The second possibility is that Tom Daschle and friends are putting more into their talks than was ever actually there, knowing it would kill McCain's chances at the presidency. In that case, is the strategy to take out one of the GOP's strong candidates in order to clear the way for Rudy or Romney? Do the Democrats see those guys as more vulnerable in the general? If so, it's an obviously flawed analysis. It's more likely that McCain really did more than think about leaving the GOP.
More thoughts at CQ.
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 3)
31. Onviously, I do not know the truth of Senator McCain's negotations with the Democrats. I do knoe that the Viet Cong tried to turn him into a traitor, and he resisted bravely and courageously against all odds. Anyone who would believe that he might take any step to the disadvantage of the country for personal gain should ponder that history first. d
d Concerned Citizen at 8:19PM on Apr 1st 2007
32. I think the Reps chance of winning the white house is about like a snow-ball in the middle of summer. And I think the guy Van Lander is watching too much T V about his boy F red Thompson. And after all the corruption in the Rep paty we the people would have to ready for the fun-farm to even think voting for a Rep, even a Brother running!!!!!!!
Ray S Woods at 7:28PM on Apr 21st 2007
33. McCain has lost it both his age and his mind too bad for Vet Election is a mess Republicans don't have a strong canidate and the Dems are in trouble with Obama as an unknown and how many more people will the Clinton's do in if you know what I mean
Russ at 7:51PM on Apr 3rd 2007
34. In alot of comments, I hear people talking about republicans this and democrats that? are we so lost in the politics of two political groups, groups that are out to advance their own political agendas, that we forgot about the underlying cause of their existence, American citizens. Come on people everyone in america isnt a democrat or republican, most of them are hard working people who dont even know who mccain or anyother political candidate is, thus the low voting turnouts.
studderer2 at 9:30PM on Apr 3rd 2007
35. In alot of comments, I hear people talking about republicans this and democrats that? are we so lost in the politics of two political groups, groups that are out to advance their own political agendas, that we forgot about the underlying cause of their existence, American citizens. Come on people everyone in america isnt a democrat or republican, most of them are hard working people who dont even know who mccain or anyother political candidate is, thus the low voting turnouts.
studderer2 at 7:29PM on Apr 4th 2007
36. In alot of comments, I hear people talking about republicans this anddemocrats that? are we so lost in the politics of two politicalgroups, groups that are out to advance their own political agendas,that we forgot about the underlying cause of their existence,American citizens. Come on people everyone in america isnt ademocrat or republican, most of them are hard working people who donteven know who mccain or anyother political candidate is, thus the low voting turnouts.
studderer2 at 7:30PM on Apr 4th 2007