John McCain Watch: Presidential Campaign Exodus – Is McCain Next?

Looks like Senator John McCain will not make it to Labor Day. Or will he?
2 Top Aides to McCain Campaign Quit

John McCain’s campaign manager and chief strategist quit Tuesday, the second major staff shake-up in a week for the Republican presidential candidate who trails his rivals in money and polls.

In a statement, the Arizona senator said Terry Nelson and John Weaver offered their resignations, “which I accepted with regret and deep gratitude for their dedication, hard work and friendship.”

Nelson, a veteran of President Bush’s successful 2004 re-election effort, said he stepped down as campaign manager and Weaver, a longtime aide who ran McCain’s failed 2000 presidential bid, said he left his post of chief strategist. Both resignations were effective immediately.

Other officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid discussing private conversations, said Nelson was fired. But several people close to Nelson disputed that characterization.

McCain’s former campaign manager, Terry Nelson

Terry Nelson, campaign manager for Republican Presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., poses at the Republican debate at the University of South Carolina’s Koger Center for the Arts in this May 15, 2007, file photo in Columbia, S.C.

Senator McCain and his chief strategist, John Weaver, fly on a private jet from Detroit to Nashville on November 5, 2006 to attend a rally for Republican candidate for Senate Bob Corker

Is the McCain campaign over?

It has been over for some time.

Anyone want to take bets on the formal announcement?

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John McCain Watch: McCain Campaign Lags in Fundraising

John McCain Watch: McCain to Pull Out of Presidential Race – What You Smoking?

John McCain Watch: McCain to Pull Out of Presidential Race By Labor Day?

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