Message Control

There were reports over the weekend that McCain would introduce some new policy measures geared towards economic recovery. Turns out, the campaign will not be releasing these anymore. Political Wire captures media reactions to the news.

"Despite signals that Sen. John McCain would have new prescriptions for the economic crisis after a weekend of meetings, his campaign said Sunday that Mr. McCain... would not have any more proposals this week unless developments call for some," the New York Times reports.

"The signs of internal confusion came as the campaign was under pressure from state party leaders to sharpen his message on the economy and at least blunt the advantage that Democrats traditionally have on the issue in hard times."

"Participants in the meeting refused to say what happened," according to Politico.

"The news dismayed McCain supporters and surrogates, who had thought the fresh policy would help him gain traction on the campaign's most vital issue, and dilute the impression that he was relying solely on attacks in the home stretch."

Meanwhile, Time notes Sen. Barack Obama will give a "major economic policy address" this afternoon in Ohio.

I've long argued that one of McCain's biggest problems is the lack of a coherent message and any sort of message control mechanism. Add this release/non-release of economic prescriptions to the list of confusing McCain messages. The text below is from a comment that I'd left on Marc Ambinder's blog last week.

Leaving aside questions of authenticity, I think the biggest problem for the McCain campaign is the lack of discipline when it comes to messaging and message control. If CW is that you are not strong on economic issues, you do not come out with a half-baked idea. Even if it means that you may not be able to unveil the new policy during the debate, when presumably you will have a larger audience. You make sure it's well laid out.

A bit of armchair analysis, perhaps, but it seems like this is a candidate/campaign that's was shaken by the 2000 race, and then demoralized by the lack of attention during the Democratic primary and since then by the strength of Obama's support.

After 2000, it seemed like the campaign took home the message that they need to make friends with the base. That is all well and good but any moves to the left or right need to be well thought out so that then the move to the proverbial center doesn't look as transparent. And that needs discipline and longterm thinking.

Same sort of short term planning is happening now where they throw everything and anything at Obama hoping that something will stick. Need to change the narrative, pick Palin. Really? Does that seem like someone with a long term plan? Why bother with the inexperience theme and then take it off the table with Palin?

Campaign suspension, Ayers, Bill Daley.. this is a campaign without any sort of discipline when it comes to message, just a series of hail mary like pot shots that come across looking like gimmicks.