John McCain was fighting to keep his beleaguered presidential bid alive yesterday after his campaign manager, his chief strategist and three other senior staff resigned.
The latest blow to the Republican senator, who six months ago was the front-runner for his party’s presidential nomination, came days after he was forced to sack more than a third of his staff because of dismal fund-raising figures.
The resignations heightened the appearance of an imploding campaign. They included Terry Nelson, his campaign manager, John Weaver, his top strategist, Reed Galen, the deputy campaign manager, and Rob Jesmer, the political director. Mark Salter, a long-term aide often described as Mr McCain’s alter ego, also left but said he would be available for advice. Mr Weaver’s departure was the most significant. He had been with Mr McCain since his 2000 presidential bid and was extremely close to the Arizona senator. One analyst said that losing him was like President Bush letting go of Karl Rove, his political mastermind, halfway through a tough election fight.
The precipitous decline in Mr McCain’s fortunes has been one of the most surprising developments of the presidential campaign. Although it is too early to write off his hopes he survived five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and is a tough man his campaign is clearly in crisis.
His fortunes have declined for a number of reasons, notably his recent co-sponsorship of an immigration reform Bill detested by conservatives, a key constituency in the Republican primary. His steadfast support for Mr Bush’s surge strategy in Iraq has hurt him nationally. Conservatives have always distrusted Mr McCain, even though he has consistently opposed abortion and is a crusader against profligate federal spending.
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Many still regard his attempt to challenge Mr Bush, the Republican heir apparent, in 2000 as treachery, and resent his efforts to clean up political funding.
He is also 70. If he wins the White House he would be the oldest man to become president and has had trouble shaking off a perception that he may be too short-tempered and elderly to take the helm of a country thirsting for fresh leadership.
After raising $11.2 million (£6 million) between April and June much less than his rivals Mr McCain’s aides conceded last week that his campaign was in financial trouble, with only $2 million in cash available for the most expensive presidential race to date. He began his bid last year with more than 150 staff; now he is operating with a skeleton crew in many states.
Recent polls showed that support for Mr McCain was plummeting in two key early-voting states: he was tied for fifth in Iowa on 6 per cent, and registered 7 per cent in South Carolina, where he has invested huge amounts of money and time for more than a year.
In a statement, Mr McCain said that he had accepted the resignations with “regret and deep gratitude”.
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He added: “In the weeks ahead, this campaign will move forward, and I will continue to address the issues of greatest concern to the American people.”