Watch original video:

It's a promotion in spite of Schmidt and a quasi-demotion for Davis, who'll still remain as McCain's closest advisor inside the campaign. More importantly, the excite sends a signal to Republican powerbrokers that an often unsteady McCain campaign will emulate the tactics of the latest successful GOP presidential campaign: Bush-Cheney '04.

Unlike a sum up of McCain insiders, Schmidt retains close ties to the Bush world. He was a top aide to Dick Cheney in the Bush White House and a key deputy to Karl Rove during the '04 campaign. More and more, of late, the McCain campaign bears Rove's imprimatur. Given the unpopularity of President Bush and voters' close dissatisfaction with the general Republican Party, McCain can only rise so well-nigh. But Barack Obama be able to still fall, which is why the McCain campaign has adopted the Rove strategy of attacking Obama as a flip-flopping liberal who denigrates the troops, honest as Rove did to John Kerry in 2004. Hence the three days of hyperventilated insult covering General Wesley Clark's comments hither and thither McCain's readiness to be Commander-in-Chief.

But these days Rovian politics only takes one in this way far–just ask Republicans in Congress. That's why Schmidt's more latter gig–managing Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful 2006 re-election bid in California–may be more instructive for McCain. After unsuccessfully battling unions and teachers at the beginning of his term while Governor, Schwarzenegger sounded more liking Bill Clinton than George Bush by the time he ran for re-election.

Rove pushed the Republican Party to the right, while Schwarzenegger has steered it to the center. Can the Terminator co-exist by Turd Blossom? McCain is betting the presidency on it.

Like this article? Try 4 issues of The Nation at home (and online) FREE.


Original text: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/oped/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080702/cm_thenation/45334021