Richardson: McCain is a Washington Celebrity

Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) was on ABC’s “This Week” program this morning talking about the Russia-Georgia crisis, and the negative tone of the McCain campaign. Richardson was asked by Jake Tapper if the Obama campaign’s negative statement about McCain’s position on the Russia-Georgia situation linking it to a McCain advisor who has lobbied for Georgia was appropriate during an international crisis.

“The McCain campaign is getting very negative. Right now they have a very negative ad on Senator Obama, the celebrity ad, during the Olympics, while Senator Obama has a positive uplifting ad about the importance of Olympic spirit. Senator McCain is the Washington celebrity here. His campaign is run by lobbyists that represent Georgia and other countries. His campaign is negative. He changes positions. He takes huge amounts of money from oil companies that are profiting in the Soviet Union and many parts of the world, $200 million in the last few months (Correction: $2 million). $2 million that have gone in since McCain switched his position on oil. You know this a campaign run by lobbyists, so we have a Washington celebrity campaign going on and it is negative,” Richardson said.

Richardson called for diplomacy in the Russia-Georgia crisis, which is right in line with the latest statement on the conflict released by the Obama campaign Big Bill also dodged a question about if he regrets not opening more areas to offshore drilling when he was energy secretary a decade ago. Richardson stayed on message by calling for more alternative energy, and stressing that McCain’s energy plan won’t work. He also said that he didn’t believe that a roll call vote at the Democratic convention later this month would help bring the party together.

I believe that Bill Richardson gave us the relaunch of the Obama campaign trying to paint McCain as the Washington insider whose campaign is run by lobbyists. The McCain camp is so wrapped up in negativity right now, that it will be interesting to see how they respond when they are attacked. McCain has shelved his positive message, so when the Obama attacks come, are they going to respond with more negative attacks?

The negative attacks have kept McCain in the game, but I don’t see how they can sustain and win a long negative campaign. The outsider theme along with his change message carried Obama to the Democratic nomination, and I don’t see any reason why they won’t also carry him to victory on November 4.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association