McCain campaign shake-up in wake of “complete the danged fence” ad fiasco

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Hill reported on Friday that Sen. John McCain is scouting for local talent after two top campaign staffers left to take other jobs.

A McCain spokesman announced Friday that campaign manager Shiree
Verdone and her deputy, Mike Hellon, were "transitioning" to an
Arizona-focused GOP fundraising venture. It was a "mutual decision" that
had been in the works for "a while," according to the campaign.

"As
part of the campaign's plan for this election year, Shiree and Mike are
transitioning over to work with party committees to create a
ticket-wide Republican Victory operation," McCain spokesman Brian Rogers
said in a statement. "Sen. McCain is very grateful for all that Shiree
and Mike have done to launch the re-election campaign and establish it
on a firm footing, and looks forward to working closely with them for
Victory in November."

McCain is now looking for Arizona-based
talent to replace Verdone and Hellon and expects to announce new hires
in the coming weeks, according to a campaign official. McCain's small
circle of top advisors, which includes Rick Davis, Charlie Black and
Mark Salter, are still overseeing the his reelection effort.

McCain's
primary opponent dubbed the departures a "meltdown."
 
"This is
the hottest race in the country and the top two people don't just jump
ship with three months to go before the primary election unless
something is wrong," said a spokesman for former Rep. J.D. Hayworth
(R-Ariz.). "This looks more like a meltdown than a makeover."
 
Some
observers have characterized the departure as a shake-up, which came as
a result of the reception of McCain's latest
TV commercial wherein he uses the phrase "complete the danged
fence" while strolling along the U.S.-Mexico border. It was widely
panned but is still airing in Arizona, the campaign confirmed. There
were other signs of trouble.

The campaign's office
opening in Tucson on Friday was chaotic. McCain was unable to
attend because his flight was grounded by weather in Dallas. His staff
scrambled to get House candidate Jonathan Paton (R) to fill in, but he
had other engagements. That left Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup and car dealer
Jim Click to speak to the crowd, who were primed to hear from the
senator himself.

See http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/98225-mccain-on-hunt-for-new-campaign-manager