‘Sincerity’ Triumphs in New Hampshire

Dana Milbank of The Washington Post reported on John McCain’s new Hampshire campaign on the day before the primary: “Ladies and gentlemen, John McCain is back. Left for dead when his campaign ran out of cash last summer, he returned to his endless town hall meetings and freewheeling talks on his campaign bus.” The consistency of McCain’s policies—most notably on Iraq—has finally paid off, despite how problematic his positions have been in the past. Milbank writes, “Revived along with McCain's spirits: A level of ‘straight talk’ bordering on the masochistic.”

Born in 1936, McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958, served in Vietnam, and spent over five years as a prisoner of war. The New York Times provides recent articles about McCain along with biographical information, voting records and speeches from the campaign trail.

For a biography of Clinton that includes speeches, voting records and archived articles, visit The New York Times Politics section.

McCain beat Romney and Huckabee in New Hampshire for a variety of reasons, according to NPR news. One factor was his consistent and candid approach to his convictions. According to one New Hampshire voter, “He has it this time because of his experience, because he's consistent in his positions, and because he says what he believes, not what he thinks is popular.” Another voter explained for NPR his distaste for Mitt Romney, and his appreciation for McCain: "They use the term flip-flopping these days, and that's the biggest turnoff. Rather than flop, McCain explains what he did, why he did it, and doesn't change where he's going.”

New York Times op-ed columnist David Books explores both Obama and McCain’s character and political priorities. Brooks provides a description of McCain’s consistent campaign tactics: “He fights fiercely, though not always successfully, against political pressures in order to remain honest, brave and forthright.” Furthermore, Brooks explores what McCain deems most valuable in party leadership: “He is allergic to blind party discipline and builds radically different coalitions depending on his views on each issue—global warming, campaign finance, spending, the war. He is most offended by dishonor.”

In a May 2007 article, the Arizona Republic questioned McCain’s relationship to the GOP platform as his 2008 campaign took off. Given his reputation as a maverick, rather than “the establishment candidate,” according to a McCain campaign manager, it may prove difficult for McCain to reconcile his forthright opinions with the conservative base. According to the Arizona Republic, “Although taking steps to appeal to conservatives may be a reasonable strategy, it just looks like political calculation, pandering and even desperation to some of McCain's disenchanted former fans.” Though McCain’s choices don’t necessarily make sense to Republican voters, and he struggles to reconcile his platform with the party line, his positions are consistent and clear: “Many analysts and pundits are puzzled by McCain's high-profile embrace of war policies that tank in the national polls, but few question his sincerity.” A McCain biographer was quoted, “It doesn't upset me that he feels that he has got to do certain things to win, as long as they don't go against the grain of what I know about him. ”

The Boston Globe examines the voters’ reaction to Clinton’s emotional scene in New Hampshire, calling it “a genuine response to the enormous pressure of today's make-or-break moment and the exhaustion of campaigning around the clock for weeks.” According to The Boston Globe, “Clinton said she was moved because the woman surprised her by asking about her well-being.” In an interview with CNN, Clinton stated, “It was so touching to me … I'm so other-oriented … I am reserved. I am someone who says, 'Let's have a little distance here,' because I want to be judged by my work."

Before the votes were tallied, ABC News considered what damage crying in public could do to a candidate's chances. ABC quotes a political science professor, “It's very hard to find the balance between appearing strong and tough and caring and engaged and then crossing your line to where you'll be labeled shrill and bitchy." Clinton’s position in the primaries may ultimately be harmed by an overly emotional campaign, according to CNN. Another academic interviewed, said, "Losing in Iowa and being on the defensive in the debate and now getting teary-eyed leads to a cumulative image that's not particular strong up front and it's not great … It creates nervousness about your ability to keep control in situations."

Maureen Dowd explores the effects of Clinton’s breakdown on the New Hampshire primaries, writing, “The Obama campaign calculated that they had the women’s vote over the weekend but watched it slip away in the track of [Clinton’s] tears.” Dowd suspects that Clinton’s outburst was motivated by factors other than exhaustion: "It was grimly typical of her that what finally made her break down was the prospect of losing.” In conclusion, Dowd describes Clinton’s campaign as something of a feminist fairy tale: “At her victory party, Hillary was like the heroine of a Lifetime movie, a woman in peril who manages to triumph. Saying that her heart was full, she sounded the feminist anthem: ‘I found my own voice.’”