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Sen. John McCain is failing to learn the lessons of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign and appeal to culturally conservative, blue-collar voters, Republican lawmakers fear.
These GOP members of the House note that Clinton (D-N.Y.) won her biggest victories in the Democratic primary by stressing the priorities of the white working class and painting Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), the expected Democratic nominee, as out-of-touch with their lives.
“We need to get people more excited,” said Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas). “We’re seeing some ‘electile dysfunction.’ ” Gohmert and some other Republicans worry about McCain’s ability to stay on message and excite the Republican base.
It is his performance among working-class independents that has drawn the most scrutiny as Republicans focus on gas prices, a “meat-and-potatoes” issue.
“McCain has to figure out the voter he’s trying to get to vote for him,” said Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (Mich.), chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. “His campaign seems to be going in different directions because he hasn’t made that decision.”
Many conservative working-class voters concerned about their economic security live in Michigan’s Oakland County, which McCotter represents. The lawmaker predicted such voters will decide Michigan, Ohio and other Midwestern battlegrounds.
McCotter said McCain needs to share his vision for preserving America’s global status and also “tell people how he’s going to move them forward. … He hasn’t really done it.”
Conservative blue-collar voters tend to agree with Republicans on cultural issues but like Democratic pledges to stand up for the working class.
“These are culturally conservative people who may or may not be Republicans or Democrats,” he said.
Rep. Ron Lewis (R-Ky.), who represents a district with several automobile industry plants, said, “I agree with that wholeheartedly. He needs to relate to them and say, ‘I get you.’
“I would remind these people what Obama said about guns and religion and [advise McCain to] be sincere that you want to be the voice for these people and stand up for them.”
Lewis urged McCain to adopt a strategy that Clinton used effectively in many states against Obama.
Clinton’s campaign blasted Obama during the primary for saying at a San Francisco fundraiser that conservative Americans clung to guns and religion because of economic insecurity.
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