McCain brings in 'The Bullet' as White House race turns nasty

[Bozita]

Source: Guardian UK

McCain brings in 'The Bullet' as White House race turns nasty
The ailing Republican campaign has turned aggressive as it deploys an expert attack squad to wound the Democrat favourite
Paul Harris in New York
The Observer, Sunday August 3 2008
Article history

The first warning sign was delivered in a phone call nine days ago, when John McCain's new senior adviser, Steve Schmidt, held a conference call with worried senior Republican party figures.

Schmidt told them that they would soon see McCain go on the offensive against Barack Obama. Some tough TV ads were coming, he warned. It was no lie. The first ad came barely 24 hours later. Others followed, and soon the US presidential election erupted into its most vicious fight so far. Both sides traded insults over patriotism, racism and allegations of becoming negative. It dominated the front pages and cable news shows, and there is little sign that the storm will abate quickly.

Many pundits saw the move as a sign of desperation from a McCain campaign humbled by Obama's triumphal world tour, behind in the polls and written off by some commentators. But the truth is very different.

McCain's aggressive strategy is a deliberate and well-thought-out ploy. It was developed and implemented by a coterie of advisers brought in last month who are protégés of the Republican political guru Karl Rove. Schmidt, who learnt his trade with Rove, heads the group and is now guiding the campaign.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/03/johnmccain.barackobama