Analysts Reflect on McCain’s Unexpected Path to GOP Nomination

JIM LEHRER:

And how did McCain do it? Well, Gwen Ifill has that story.

GWEN IFILL:

Just last summer, John McCain was out of money and seemingly out of luck. But last night, he pulled off the most stunning turnaround of the presidential campaign, outlasting a half-dozen strong competitors to effectively claim the Republican Party nomination.

For some thoughts on how he did it and what happens next, we turn to New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus.

Welcome to you both.

So, David, we've heard all the metaphors, Lazarus rising from the dead, phoenix rising from the ashes. Which is it? How did he pull it off?

DAVID BROOKS, Columnist, New York Times:

Fatalism, first of all. I recall riding with him in a van at the depths of all this. And he was like the pilot who was just taking off from the plane, whatever is going to happen is going to happen.

And he sort of — for all the people who think you need to strategize and do this and that, he had no strategy, because he had no strategists left. And so he just said, "I'm going to do whatever I need to do." And he just was himself. And I think that did liberate him.

The second thing I'd say, he had accumulated over the years a number of advisers who were so loyal to him they would work for him for nothing. And that was absolutely crucial, because you actually do need like three or four staff.

He didn't have many, but he had a few, and they were willing to go deep into their pockets to pay for their own families while they were working for him.

Third, he got lucky. Mike Huckabee beat Mitt Romney; that was crucial.

And, fourth and finally, he did these town meetings. And you'd go up to New Hampshire when he was in the depths of his despair, the town meetings were still good events. They were still getting 300 people. They still liked him. And he just kept doing town meeting after town meeting after town meeting. So it all worked out for him.

GWEN IFILL:

You look at the four things David just listed, Ruth, and prioritize them and then add whatever else you think.

RUTH MARCUS, Washington Post:

I would prioritize two. The first is every mother who's ever told her children, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again" should thank John McCain, because he just kept going.

I was with him in New Hampshire, also, the weekend after his campaign allegedly imploded, if we remember that word. And he had a good turnout. And he was doing it. And he just kept plugging away.

The second thing is he is the luckiest politician on the planet right now. He just benefited from everything. Every card fell right for him, and not just Mike Huckabee who, I think, has done him a favor all along, but Rudy Giuliani making some bad strategic decisions, Fred Thompson never being the candidate that he was supposed to be.

And so, in the end, plugging, plugging, plugging, tortoise and hare, tortoise got nominated this time.