McCain document outlines economic strategy

[Ron Burgundy]

Politico - John McCain's campaign is considering a series of tactics intended to focus attention on the Republican's effort to address the economy, including a jobs-oriented tour of targeted states, an economic summit and*family roundtable events "heavily tilted towards women," according to an internal memo.

In a document titled "Economic Communications Plan" sent Sunday*to top campaign aides and economic advisers and obtained by Politico, McCain communications adviser Taylor Griffin writes that their polling reveals "Americans are still not tuned into what the candidates might do to fix the economy."

To address that, Griffin writes, McCain needs to convey three ideas:

1. McCain understands the economic problems of ordinary Americans. Barack Obama does not.
2. McCain understands that the situation is urgent.
3. McCain's “Jobs for America” plan is superior.*

Asked about the memo, Griffin downplayed what he called a "working document."***

"It shouldn't surprise anybody that we're working on a very important issue facing the country," he said.

But the language is the sort most campaigns would rather not see made public.** For example, Griffin explicitly highlights the campaign's need to appeal to female voters.

Pushing the idea of a "Family Budget Roundtable," Griffin writes that a photo-op would be "heavily tilted towards women to discuss the pressures the economy is placing on family finances and how McCain's plan would help."

And he*explains in strategic terms why the campaign should portary their jobs plan as an "economic surge."

It would "[d]raw the parallel with the same kind of bold leadership that McCain demonstrated in pushing the surge strategy that allowed us to win in Iraq,' Griffin writes.* "Need that same vision, intensity and leadership to attack our economic problems."

Discussing the need to take more of a populist tack, Griffin notes that voters "are tired of big corporations, lobbyist and special interests who they feel prosper at their expense."

Therefore, he suggests, McCain should tout his record of "taking on corporate interests" but also note Obama's connection to his own special interests.

"Contrast" opportunities -- code for avenues on how to attack the Democrat -- would include pointing out Obama's ties to trial lawyers and organized labor.

As for tactics, Griffin*touts the potential of a jobs tour that could*feature*companies*"that are succeeding and that our economic plans will support" as well as an economic summit and the women-heavy roundtables.**

The aide also proposes networks of small businesses and regional economists designed to write letters to the editor and op-eds along with*All Star Economists" who could make the "intellectual case for the McCain plan."

*

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080807/pl_politico/18918 [link]