McCain Camp Won’t Rule Out 1 Term Vow

From a delighted Politico:

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, huddles with campaign chairman Rick Davis on their charter plane.

McCain chief won’t rule out one-term pledge

Jonathan Martin, August 10, 2008

John McCain’s campaign manager this morning repeatedly declined to rule out the possibility that the Republican nominee may pledge to serve just one term.

Rick Davis, appearing on “Fox News Sunday,” demurred three times when Chris Wallace raised the prospect that McCain may use the Republican convention next month to make such a promise.

Wallace raised the prospect — much discussed in political circles — that McCain could combine the one-term pledge with a vow that he would run an apolitical administration.

“If you know John McCain, you know there’s not going to be much politics in the White House,” Davis replied, ignoring the matter of whether the Arizona senator, who turns 72 later this month, could limit himself to a single term.

Asked directly about the matter, Davis replied: “Chris, you’re going to have to come to the Republican convention.”

When Wallace noted that Davis wasn’t ruling it out, the aide again declined to discuss the prospect. “I’m not talking about it all,” Davis said.

McCain considered making such a pledge when he announced his presidential bid last year but decided against it because he was worried it would limit his effectiveness in office.

Some sympathetic political observers, looking for ways that McCain can address the age issue, have continued to urge such a move during the course of the campaign, but the Republican has consistently declined to do so. 

‘’No, because I think then you’re the lame duck, you’re quacking on Inauguration Day,” McCain said in January when asked about the prospect.

What is wrong with the McCain campaign? Do they want McCain to appear even more old and feeble?

Do they want him to be a “lame duck” from day one? Could they be any more apologetic and defensive?

Still, the more we think about it, one term of Mr. McCain might not be such a bad idea after all.