Put a Fork in he's done: More aides quit McCain campaign
More aides quit McCain campaign
WASHINGTON - John McCain's top communications aides and several staffers in Iowa and South Carolina quit yesterday, the latest departures to hit the Republican as he struggles to rebound from financial and political woes. Brian Jones, McCain's communications director, and his two deputies, Matt David and Danny Diaz, stepped down but plan to stay on through the week. Two others in the communications shop also are leaving, as are two staffers apiece in Iowa and South Carolina.
Jill Hazelbaker, McCain's current New Hampshire communications director, is expected to take over for Jones and head up media operations. In Iowa, Tim Miller, his state communications director, and Marlys Popma, the Iowa coalitions director who was serving as a link to the state's influential religious conservative community, also announced their resignations.And, in South Carolina, Adam Temple, a spokesman, and Josh Robinson, the state field director, also stepped down.Also yesterday, Iowa Republican Party officials said they had been told McCain was closing his campaign in the state. But McCain's campaign disputed that. In Santa Clara, Calif., yesterday McCain addressed a gathering of the Churchill Club, a public-affairs and technology forum. The moderator questioned him about his campaign."We structured the campaign in too large a fashion and in too bureaucratic a fashion," McCain said. "And we raised pretty good amounts of money, but we spent too much. It's not too much more complicated than that. ...We fixed the mistakes, we're movin' on and we will have the kind of campaign that succeeds."
