RNC chairman optimistic about Tuesday vote

By TJ GREANEY

Southeast Missourian

Ken Mehlman, chairman of the Republican National Committee, arrived at the Republican Party headquarters at 500 Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday for an unpublicized drop-in to motivate volunteers making phone calls for local candidates.

Before he became chairman in 2005, Mehlman, a Baltimore native, served as campaign manager for President Bush's re-election bid in 2004.

The chairman of the RNC is effectively charged with coordinating the message and direction of the party. He promotes the political platform, oversees fund raising and oversees the Republican National Convention. Mehlman and Karl Rove are credited with developing the "72-Hour Program" to get conservative voters to the polls in large numbers on Election Day.

A Southeast Missourian reporter was on hand and was afforded the opportunity to chat with the chairman.

Q: What do you think of the Republicans' chances in 2006?

A: I think they're very good here in Missouri. I think Jim Talent is going to get re-elected, and the reason is people are going to see him as a common-sense guy that solves problems. They like the fact that he wants to make sure we stay strong on the war on terror. They like the fact that he supports tax relief. They like the fact that he supports appointing more judges like Roberts and Alito. They like the fact that he has come out for things like more home-grown sources of energy, more dollars for the highways, all of these are examples of policies he's supported and efforts he has made to deliver for the state.

Q: In election season we see tons of advertisements, and a lot of them this time of year are negative. I saw one last night talking about her husband's holdings in Bermuda and real-estate interests. I wonder what is your philosophy on negative ads.

A: My philosophy is that ads are one of number of ways candidates can communicate to voters. And I think ultimately ads as well as what candidates say and do in debates, all they do together is give you a picture of two people and their philosophies. That's the basis on which voters make decisions.

Q: Anything that would come to your attention as chairman where you would say, "We're not running that ad?"

A: Sure. I think there is plenty of stuff I would say we're not running if I thought it was over the line or inappropriate. And obviously that is part of what you try to do as chairman. One of the challenges we've got is a lot of the ads we've done are ads I'm not allowed to see by the law. But if they are ads that I'm allowed to see, I make sure that I think they're appropriate.

Q: Are there any ads you have seen this election season that you can point to and say have been inappropriate either on the Republican or Democratic side?

A: I don't know that I think any. I mean, there may be some that I wouldn't have run or would have run; anybody can be a Monday morning quarterback on ads. I just think generally the ads have been instructive and described the choices in a lot of the elections.

I also think ads are a little overrated in their effect. People watch a lot less television than they used to. They watch a lot less of the major networks. I'm a big believer in using grassroots word of mouth, which is what you're seeing here as a way to get out our message.

Q: I assume you heard John Kerry's comments [Tuesday]. What do you make of them?

A: I was disappointed in them. He should have apologized right away, and he never should have said them. I don't understand how you can think that the people who serve our country in Iraq are there because they have no other alternative. In fact, they're choosing the best alternative they can to show their patriotism. I always say that if you've served our country, then you're more of a patriot than I could ever be. And I respect people who are involved in that.

It's also factually wrong. It's been studied numerous times, and our all-volunteer army attracts the best and the brightest as well as the most patriotic.

Q: It's been suggested that the Republican Party and leadership are waiting until after the election to change course in Iraq if in fact they've decided to change course.

A: Certainly the military has constantly and consistently changed course in Iraq. What they haven't done is accepted the fact that we're going to lose this war because it's hard to win.

Q: Can you say unequivocally that in the time between now and the election there is no change that might be made after, that could be made now?

A: To my knowledge, yes.

Q: And it's never politically motivated.

A: Absolutely not. I have tremendous confidence in the military and what they do.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

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