Axelrod: He's(mccain) Been Living Off the Fumes of 2000

[tekisui]

Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama successfully used his convention speech to lay out the stakes for the November election and draw a contrast with Republican John McCain, though he may receive little or no bounce in the polls, the Democratic nominee's chief strategist said.

``He believes that we are in a tipping point really in this country both in terms of our policies here, economic policies, and in foreign policy,'' strategist David Axelrod said in an interview on Bloomberg Television's ``Political Capital with Al Hunt'' to be broadcast today. ``I think he made that case.''

Because the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, begins just four days after the conclusion of the Democratic gathering last night, Obama isn't expected to get a bounce in the polls, Axelrod said.

``I wasn't looking for a huge bounce,'' Axelrod said. ``I don't think there's a lot of play in this electorate.''

Axelrod said that Obama's criticism of McCain, 72, was stronger than in past speeches, and defended the harsher language. In his 45-minute speech last night in Denver, Obama criticized McCain's judgment on the war in Iraq, the economy and his support of President George W. Bush.

``The American people are willing to tolerate fair contrasts,'' Axelrod said. ``If they feel you are being fair, they don't mind you being tough.''

Loyal Bush Supporter

Axelrod said Obama, an Illinois senator, successfully portrayed McCain as a loyal supporter of Bush rather than the maverick he campaigned as when he first sought the White House eight years ago.

``He's been living off the fumes of 2000,'' Axelrod said. ``St. Paul underwent a conversion on the road to Damascus and John McCain underwent a conversion on the road to St. Paul.''

The Republican argument has been that Obama, 47, does not have the experience to serve as president. Axelrod noted that the Republicans ran a similar campaign against Bill Clinton in 1992.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=acKcY5yzGikI&refer=us

Good stuff, Mr. Axelrod. Keep up the great work!

[skids]

1. Great line.

:rofl:

And I'd add: "McCain: Sell By 2000"

[tekisui]

2. It also brings the image of "mental fumes" that Alzheimer's patients

suffer from.

[grannie4peace]

3. GREAT!!!!!!!