WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, PART III: JOHN MCCAIN AT FOX NEWS DEBATE
McCain Won The Debate, Continues On A Roll With "His Mojo Back" And "His Engine On"
NBC's First Read: "If This Were A Boxing Match" McCain Won. "McCain: If this were a boxing match, we probably would have scored it for McCain on points over the other rivals. He deftly handled every critique ..." (NBC's "First Read," 5/16/07)
Time's Mark Halperin: McCain Got "His Mojo Back" And Delivered "Genuine Views ... All His Aces." "[McCain] Got some of his mojo back. Several answers especially on twin vulnerabilities of Iraq and immigration channeled his genuine views and transcended mere debate prep. Sold bipartisanship, hard choices, fiscal discipline, anti-torture, and experience all his aces." (Mark Halperin, "The Second Republican Debate," Time, 5/16/07)
MSNBC's Chris Matthews: "McCain is really coming back ... he is tough." (MSNBC's "Gregory Live," 5/16/07)
· Matthews: McCain "Looks Like He Has Got His Engine On." "I think we are going through one of these periods where McCain is making something of a comeback and getting much tougher and I think the fact that he looks like he has got his engine on helps him." (MSNBC's "Gregory Live," 5/16/07)
National Review Commentator T.J. Walker: "John McCain is back!" ("The Second Date," National Review Online, 5/16/07)
Slate's John Dickerson: McCain "Had A Good Night." "McCain also had a good night. ... Perhaps the most impressive moment for McCain came when he reasserted his opposition to torturing terrorist suspects." (John Dickerson, "Fox And Frienemies," www.slate.com, 5/16/07)
The Politico's Jim VandeHei: McCain Delivered "A Great Exchange ... Very Crisp." "McCain is basically saying you're a flip-flopper and he is going right after him on what everyone knows is the fundamental weakness of the Romney campaign. It was a great exchange. Again, it was very crisp and people could clearly understand the dynamic. McCain went on TV afterwards and even amplified the remarks: said listen, I felt like I was under attack and I got to draw the line and I got to push back." (CNN's "American Morning," 5/16/07)
McCain Showcased Strength, Experience, And Ability To Lead On Day One
NBC's Chuck Todd: McCain "Looked Strong," "Animated" And "Funny." "John McCain was John McCain. He looked strong, he looked animated and he looked funny again. He cracked jokes ... and I think that that helped him a lot." (MSNBC's "News Live," 5/16/07)
Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC): McCain "Passionate" And "Very Genuine," Showed He "Could Become President On Day One With No Learning Curve." "[J]ohn was passionate last night, he looked like a guy that could become president on day one with no learning curve. But more importantly, he's exactly where he's been his entire life on the issues. John McCain was very genuine and it was from the heart last night, and a year from now, he's going to be in the same position on those issues." (Fox News' "Fox And Friends," 5/16/07)
· Burr: McCain Is A "Straight-Shooter" Who Understands The War On Terror. "I believe John McCain is going to be the same straight-shooter that in the year 2000 was very competitive in the presidential race, and more importantly, a person who understands how important it is to end the war on terror because we've eliminated the threat." (Fox News' "Fox And Friends," 5/16/07)
NBC's Andrea Mitchell: McCain "The Only Candidate ... [With] His Own Unique Credentials." "McCain seemed to be recapturing the old McCain. ... [H]e was basically saying, 'I am who I am. Take me or leave me. This is who I am.' He was the only candidate who really spoke out and has, you know, his own unique credentials for that against torture, whereas the others were all trying to outdo each other." (MSNBC's "Gregory Live," 5/16/07)
Newsday's Dan Janison: "McCain, the former Prisoner of War, spoke with feeling against the use of torture both tactically and morally." (Dan Janison, [New York] Newsday's "Spin Cycle" Blog, "The Real Rudy Moment, Before And After ...," weblogs.newsday.com, 5/16/07)
Former Secretary Of State Bill Jones (R-CA): Debate Showed "McCain Clearly Stands Above The Field" And "Is Uniquely Qualified To Guide America Through These Challenging Times." "Last night's presidential debate in South Carolina showed that John McCain clearly stands above the field when it comes to the fundamental question of who is prepared to lead America, right now. To be sure, each of our Republican candidates offers their own distinctive set of credentials, but none are as uniquely qualified to guide America through these challenging times as John McCain." (Bill Jones, "Flash Report" Blog, "John McCain Will Do What Is Right For America," www.flashreport.org, 5/16/07)
· Jones: McCain "The Best Messenger On Stage For The Party Of Reagan ... In His Comfort Zone Railing Against Excessive Spending In Washington." "Last night, the best messenger on stage for the party of Reagan was clearly John McCain. His steadfast commitment to conservative principles and the defense of traditional values is what our party needs in its next standard-bearer, and his peerless experience in public service is what our country needs in its next President. ... Last night's debate also found John McCain in his comfort zone railing against excessive spending in Washington." (Bill Jones, "Flash Report" Blog, "John McCain Will Do What Is Right For America," www.flashreport.org, 5/16/07)
· Jones: McCain Exhibited "Energy, Passion, And Forthrightness," And "Is Only One Who Has Consistently Represented The Core Beliefs Of Our Party." "After having watched the debate and seen some of the commentary afterwards, I think it is now crystal clear that among the leading candidates, there is only one who has consistently represented the core beliefs of our party, and that is John McCain. ... We learned long ago that there's no quit in John McCain. His energy, passion, and forthrightness during these debates have reminded us that he has already been tested on the national stage; we can trust that he will never allow anyone or anything to come in between him and his obligation to do what's right for America." (Bill Jones, "Flash Repo rt" Blog, "John McCain Will Do What Is Right For America," www.flashreport.org, 5/16/07)
Power Line's John Hinderaker: McCain "Did Well." "McCain had several good opportunities, and did well with them. ... McCain also got in a slam at Congress under the Democrats its current approval level is accounted for by staffers and relatives ..." (John Hinderaker, "Power Line" Blog, "Impressions," powerlineblog.com, 5/16/07)
McCain's Remarks Won Laughter And Applause
The Politico's Mike Allen: McCain's Remarks On Spending "Got Laughter And Applause." "McCain got laughter and applause for: 'We let spending go out of control. We spent money like a drunken sailor, although I never knew a sailor drunk or sober with the imagination of my colleagues. By the way, I received an e-mail not long ago from a fellow who said I repeat this story "As a former drunken sailor, I resent the way that [drunken sailors continue] being compared to members of Congress."'" (Mike Allen, "Playbook: Fight Night," www.politico.com, 5/16/07)
Rich Galen: "McCain Performed Well" And Got Laughs Talking About Spending. "McCain performed well. ... He got another laugh by repeating his line about a drunken sailor e-mailing him complaining that he was tired of being compared to Congress." (Rich Galen, "The GOP Debate II," CNS News, 5/16/07)
CNN's John Roberts: McCain Delivered "Humorous Moment" On Spending. "And there [were] a couple humorous moments, as well. John McCain, trotted out again, it's a pretty tried and true line for him. But it worked really well last night, that Congress is spending like drunken sailors and you know I know a drunken sailor who said I take offense at that." (CNN's "American Morning," 5/16/07)
