If you want a sense of how an Obama candidacy might shake up American politics, consider this: John McCain’s ad man, who was Bush’s media adviser, has reportedly told the campaign that he can’t work for it if Obama is the Democratic nominee. He wouldn’t want to destroy the hope that, he feels, Obama represents.
What makes this all the more surprising is that Mark McKinnon is a firm believer in Iraq, which is why he’s working for McCain, and Obama is the one serious candidate in the race who was against it from the off. So despite disagreeing with him on such a key issue, he won’t campaign against him. Also, the Bush team weren’t exactly averse to playing rough—just ask McCain or John Kerry—so for one of them to come over all principled about tearing someone down suggests something’s up.
To be sure, McKinnon is a former Democrat who has long been complimentary about Obama: calling him, “the most interesting persona to appear on the political radar screen in decades…a walking, talking hope machine, and he may reshape American politics.” He’s also suggested that if the general is McCain-Obama the two could share a plane and campaign across the country together as Kennedy and Goldwater intended to do. But it is still remarkable that two of the key figures from Bush’s campaigns are so excited by Obama. It’s hard not to feel that there’s something special brewing.
p.s. Do read this great piece on the speech that made Obama
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