WASHINGTON — A top adviser to John McCain took day-to-day control of campaign operations today, a move that came after weeks of private concerns among Republicans that the GOP presidential campaign had not made the transition for the general election.
Steve Schmidt, a member of the Arizona senator’s inner circle over the past six months, will oversee political, strategy, coalitions, scheduling and communications efforts from the campaign’s northern Virginia headquarters.
He will report to Campaign Manager Rick Davis, who retains his post and will continue to focus on long-term planning, the vice presidential search, fundraising and the convention.
Davis told the staff of Schmidt’s expanded role at a today meeting.
“This is a natural growth of the campaign and we think it’s a good thing,” said spokesman Brian Rogers.
Schmidt was involved in McCain’s presidential campaign from the start, but took on a more prominent role after the campaign nearly imploded one year ago after fundraising troubles and a staff shake-up.
He was a near constant presence on the campaign trail during McCain’s comeback, which resulted in his winning enough primaries to capture the GOP nomination. In recent weeks, Schmidt worked out of headquarters as he assumed additional duties.
Schmidt presided over California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s successful re-election bid two years ago, a campaign in which the governor moved steadily to the political middle. Schmidt also was a top aide in President Bush’s re-election campaign in 2004 and worked for Vice President Dick Cheney in the White House.
McCain locked up the GOP nomination in March. Since then, Republican insiders have expressed private worries that the stripped-down campaign of the primary season was not adequately transforming into a general election operation able to take on Democratic Sen. Barack Obama.
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