Could people stop comparing McCain to Jeb‽

[The Mikado]

The fascinating thing is that McCain was polling, both in New Hampshire and nationally, almost exactly where Marco Rubio currently is: low teens and third place. Rubio winning this year would be exactly as much of a come-from-behind comeback as McCain pulled in 2008. Jeb is polling at Ron Paul 2008 levels. Could we stop referring to a McCain-level comeback when we talk about Jeb? Jeb doesn't need a McCain level comeback, he needs a miracle.

If Rubio wins, we could call him the new McCain.

Today is 36 days to Iowa. RCP has Rubio at 11.3 nationally, and McCain at 12.5 on November 28th, 2007, 36 days before Iowa.

[James Monroe]

Please, Jeb! campaign is all but sunken by the inevitability power of the Trump campaign. That loser should just fire his staff and call it a quit. With his ability to rally the angry white people and sincere liberals crossing over to support his candidacy, Trump will be going all the way to the convention securing the nomination!

[This account no longer in use.]

Please, Jeb! campaign is all but sunken by the inevitability power of the Trump campaign. That loser should just fire his staff and call it a quit. With his ability to rally the angry white people and sincere liberals crossing over to support his candidacy, Trump will be going all the way to the convention securing the nomination!

[The Other Castro]

A McCain comeback would more appropriately apply to Christie's strategy as it relies solely on a good showing/victory in New Hampshire. Rubio's campaign has more of a Bill Clinton-type path to victory in that he doesn't need to win the early states but just survive until later on in the race.

[mencken]

A McCain comeback would more appropriately apply to Christie's strategy as it relies solely on a good showing/victory in New Hampshire. Rubio's campaign has more of a Bill Clinton-type path to victory in that he doesn't need to win the early states but just survive until later on in the race.

Clinton had a strong second in New Hampshire though. Rubio may not need to win the early states, but he certainly has to show some sign of viability.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Please, Jeb! campaign is all but sunken by the inevitability power of the Trump campaign. That loser should just fire his staff and call it a quit. With his ability to rally the angry white people and sincere liberals crossing over to support his candidacy, Trump will be going all the way to the convention securing the nomination!

You must be an angry cisgendered white male who is mad that there are different cultures in this country and that LGBT people have rights and women have choice when it comes to abortions...

Or a troll

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Yep Jeb isn't like McCain, he's like Giuliani.

[Torie]

The fascinating thing is that McCain was polling, both in New Hampshire and nationally, almost exactly where Marco Rubio currently is: low teens and third place. Rubio winning this year would be exactly as much of a come-from-behind comeback as McCain pulled in 2008. Jeb is polling at Ron Paul 2008 levels. Could we stop referring to a McCain-level comeback when we talk about Jeb? Jeb doesn't need a McCain level comeback, he needs a miracle.

If Rubio wins, we could call him the new McCain.

Today is 36 days to Iowa. RCP has Rubio at 11.3 nationally, and McCain at 12.5 on November 28th, 2007, 36 days before Iowa.

I am unaware of anyone here comparing Jeb to McCain as a guy with real potential to be the comeback kid. Be happy.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Seriously though Rubio to McCain is kind of a good comparison. McCain was kind of an establishment-esque candidate at the beginning, but never their main choice, all that rallying was around Giuliani. McCain was generally considered as a retread also ran (obviously that doesn't apply to Rubio) who likely wouldn't get off the ground once the campaigned kicked off, and most thought McCain's quick collapse in the polls proved this correct. Jeb was Giuliani, the initial establishment favorite, with all the funding and support to match. That Giuliani was never taken seriously as a candidate is one of those falsehoods that has managed to work its way into conventional wisdom, much like that "the scream" is the main reason Howard Dean lost the nomination in 2004. Giuliani was always an utterly pathetic candidate who was never going to win in hindsight, but it doesn't mean he didn't have the backing at first. Just like Jeb really.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Most people were incredulous of Giuliani winning the Republican nomination even when he soared at the polls. I remember Charlie Cook writing in the summer of 2007 that it's more possible for him to win the Tour de France than for Giuliani to be the Republican nominee. His apostasies were just too many for conservatives to ignore.
The fact that he proved to be a terrible candidate and campaigner was just the icing in the cake. 

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

That's true yes but astute people knowing he was never going to be nominated isn't the same as no one did. Hence his $60m million spent on a single delegate.

[LLR]

At this point, Jeb is hoping to not disgrace his family. He doesn't want to be doing this - just look at what he's been saying.

[Maxwell]

At this point, Jeb is hoping to not disgrace his family. He doesn't want to be doing this - just look at what he's been saying.

this is a common point thrown out that is complete nonsense. All of the real evidence points to Jeb being the one who wanted to be President, not W.

[Angel of Death]

Yes, Jeb's current demeanor seems to be a classic case of sour grapes.

[Reaganfan]

McCain fans like myself had an idea. If Huckabee knocked out Romney in Iowa, and then a weakened Romney lost New Hampshire to McCain, then McCain wins South Carolina...McCain would take the map. That literally is what happened.

[Lord of the Dome]

I was under the impression that the only one talking about Jebs campaign and comparing it to McCains in 08 was the man himself. He's basically the only guy saying that isn't he?

[Coolface Sock #42069]

I was under the impression that the only one talking about Jebs campaign and comparing it to McCains in 08 was the man himself. He's basically the only guy saying that isn't he?

Marco Rubio also made the comparison between Jeb! and McCain during the CNBC debate.

Also, didn't you guys get the memo that you have to use the exclamation point every time you talk about Jeb!? Not using the exclamation point when talking about Jeb! is like leaving the "L" out of Samuel L. Jackson.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Kerry was polling around 8% in late 2003, so also better than Jeb.