Thread: McCain's mission: A GOP makeover

By: Alex Isenstadt
October 2, 2009 05:04 AM EST

Fresh from a humbling loss in last year’s presidential election, Sen. John McCain is working behind-the-scenes to reshape the Republican Party in his own center-right image.

McCain is recruiting candidates, raising money for them and hitting the campaign trail on their behalf. He’s taken sides in competitive House, Senate and gubernatorial primaries and introduced his preferred candidates to his top donors.

When the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy created a vacant Senate seat in Massachusetts, McCain went so far as to solicit former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling to run for the seat.

It’s all part of an approach that is at odds with most other recent failed presidential nominees, whose immediate response to defeat was to retreat from the electoral arena. But those familiar with McCain’s thinking say he has expressed serious concern about the direction of the party and is actively seeking out and supporting candidates who can broaden the party’s reach.

In McCain’s case, that means backing conservative pragmatists and moderates.

“I think he’s endorsed people with center-right politics because he has an understanding that the party is in trouble with certain demographics and wants to have a tone that would allow us to grow,â€

HE IS AWFUL...Nothin but a puppet like Bush.

[quote][quote]“This is John’s way of staying in the game,â€

Keep us informed on this issue of McCain and Graham. Thank you.

That's pretty funny, McCain is whats wrong with the Republican Party.

Well i hate McCain but Jerry Moran has a "B" with Numbers on immigration and Rep. Todd Tiahrt, has a c+.

we will really have to watch the people McCain is backing we all know this traitor on illegal immigration!

The GOP has been moving to the left for the last eight years. Rockefeller Republicanism has been in the White House for the past 8 years. The “country clubâ€

Originally Posted by Reciprocity

That's pretty funny, McCain is whats wrong with the Republican Party.

Yeah...............what a bad bad joke.

we will really have to watch the people McCain is backing we all know this traitor on illegal immigration

Yeah he is working to set us up for another no win situation.

The elites like McCain of the Rep party are irrelevant. They've ruined the party imo. Was suspicious when he became a candidate for president. Can't help but wonder what Reagan would say about his party now?