Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and his senior advisers met congressional supporters yesterday to persuade them not to desert him for rivals who are trying to cash in on strife and gloom within his ailing presidential campaign.
Surrogates for former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) have approached lawmakers who back McCain in recent days to gauge their willingness to switch camps as McCain runs out of money.
Yesterday’s meetings were among dozens that McCain and his inner circle have held in the past two weeks with supporters to persuade them that the senator can still win the nomination, said Charlie Black, a lobbyist and veteran of several presidential campaigns, who attended the sessions with lawmakers.
A report filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) shows that McCain has only $166,000 in the bank to spend on the primary election. He is thus in dire straits; he has raised $24.8 million for his campaign but spent it all. The cash crunch prompted McCain last week to replace two of his most senior political advisers, campaign manager Terry Nelson and chief strategist John Weaver.
A slew of other staff have since resigned, including communications director Brian Jones, and spokesmen Matt David and Danny Diaz. Research director Brian Rogers, Iowa communications director Tim Miller, and South Carolina spokesman Adam Temple have also quit.
McCain and his remaining strategists met with House lawmakers yesterday morning to avert panic. Campaign CEO Rick Davis, fundraising boss Tom Loeffler, a former Texas Republican congressman, lobbyist and fundraiser Wayne Berman, and Black led yesterday’s congressional outreach.
“They said it was a tough week of press coverage but that things are on track,” said Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio), one of those who have endorsed McCain and who attended the session. “It was a good, upbeat meeting.”
McCain aides acknowledged that they may accept public financing to supplement the campaign’s lackluster fundraising.
But one aide hinted strongly that McCain would forgo public funds, which campaign experts say would impose onerous restrictions on his campaign. Accepting public funds would prevent McCain spending from more than $50 million before next year’s nominating convention. The Democratic nominee is expected to have millions more to launch attacks in the spring.
Black told lawmakers he would urge McCain not to accept public money, according to sources at the meeting.
Black told The Hill that McCain’s campaign would not suffer from the recent exodus of experienced staff because he and other volunteers would greatly increase their help.
“We lost some experience, we saved some experience and we’ve added a lot of guys like me, volunteers who are going to step up and put more time into it,” said Black. “I was doing some. I’m going to do a lot more. Same for Tom Loeffler, Wayne Berman, and [former Sen.] Phil Gramm [R-Texas].”
So far 27 lawmakers have endorsed McCain, including nine senators and 18 House members. As McCain has missed his fundraising targets and as senior staff have deserted him, rivals have begun courting lawmakers who cast their lot with McCain months ago.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) said representatives of Thompson and Giuliani approached her about switching allegiances. Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.), who is rounding up endorsements for Thompson, and former Rep. Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.), a senior adviser to Giuliani, have made queries, she said.
“Lately they’ve both been putting on a good campaign but I’m a McCain supporter,” said Ros-Lehtinen, although she admitted she likes the other candidates: “I like both of them. Fred Thompson is solid on all the issues I care about.”
Wamp said he has spoken recently to “at least half” of McCain’s House supporters. They have expressed interest but are concerned about creating a negative impression if they switch candidates, Wamp said, adding, “They’re very skittish but they’re all very supportive of Fred.”
Gramm, who is helping McCain’s fundraising, said his supporters would not flee. “People don’t give to fundraising staff, they give to candidates,” he explained. “The one strength McCain has is that he has very committed support, especially financial donors.”
In the afternoon, McCain and his team met with Senate supporters at an office at 101 Constitution Ave.
“He’s made the changes to his campaign that he thought were absolutely vital to get finances in control and get focused on
the message of John McCain as a candidate,” said Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.). “I think they got a good plan put together but this is not a campaign focused on how much money they can raise, it’s a campaign focused on how they can get the candidate in front of voters.”
Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), another supporter who met with McCain, said senators in the room expressed relief over McCain’s decision to pare down his campaign operation.
“During a campaign, internal discord just tears it up,” said Gordon. “Being behind, at this point, gives him a chance to become the John McCain who nearly won the nomination in 2000.”
Gordon added that colleagues advised McCain to “get back to the basics that made him appealing in 2000.”
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