Further evidence that John McCain’s campaign may be unraveling came today when four of his top advisers abruptly quit the campaign:
Republican presidential candidate John McCain accepted the resignations of two of his top aides today in a stunning shakeup of a campaign that has been roiled by financial and political problems.
Campaign manager Terry Nelson and chief strategist John Weaver issued terse statements announcing their departures from the McCain camp, which reportedly came after the candidate erupted after concluding that his top-level advisers had mismanaged the operation.
An angry McCain reportedly confronted Weaver and Nelson about the campaign’s operations, particularly the amount of money that was being spent even when it was clear funds were tight. The final confrontation, coming after McCain returned from a visit to Iraq over the weekend, ultimately led to their departures, according to sources.
Also leaving are McCain political director Rob Jesmer and deputy campaign manager Reed Galen, officials said.
The decision to change leadership appeared to signal McCain’s determination to try to pull his campaign out of its steep descent. His problems likely will make fundraising more difficult and could accelerate the erosion in support nationally and in the early states. But some advisers see a parallel between McCain’s situation and the one John F. Kerry faced four years ago, when he dismissed several top advisers after his campaign had fallen into a tailspin.
Given the fast moving pace of this campaign, though, this may be too little too late.
