This past April, I had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with former Senator Bill Bradley. I asked Senator Bradley if he remembered a quote from his 2000 presidential campaign where he was reported as saying, "If John McCain and I get nominated by our respectful parties, I could see us riding around the country on a bus and stopping at various locations for a debate on relevant issues. Just drive around and discuss policy and take questions."
He said he remembered that possibility. I asked him if he thought we might actually ever see such an election. Senator Bradley looked at me and said, "If Barack Obama wins [the nomination], I could see him and Senator McCain doing just that."
"Wow, wouldn't that be nice," I said to him
During the week leading up to this past New Hampshire primary, I had the pleasure of leading a group of volunteers for the McCain 2008 campaign in Concord, New Hampshire. Every morning starting at 6:45, our little group occupied two corners of a major intersection in downtown Concord. About thirty minutes later our friends from the Obama campaign occupied the other two corners. It was good fun with excellent camaraderie for what we thought a worthy cause. Both candidates were underdogs and both groups of volunteers genuinely enjoyed our mornings shouting at cars and trying to get truck drivers to blow their horns. The Obama people would chant "Fired up," and the McCain people would yell back, "John McCain."
The citizens of Concord must have thought we were crazy as we stood there waving signs every morning at 6:45 in sub-zero temperatures. Each morning, once our toes went numb, the McCain and Obama volunteers would end up intermingling and discussing the upcoming primary and the presidential race in general. Discussing politics actually became a way to stay warm.
"Wouldn't it be great if both our candidates won the whole thing?" I asked my contemporary from the Obama group.
He observed and I concurred that by far the McCain and Obama volunteers seemed to be the only campaigners actually having fun. "Talk about a clean and fun campaign," he replied.
I said to him, "Maybe McCain and Obama would actually do what Bradley and McCain said they would do in 2000."
"Wow, wouldn't that be nice." He shivered back.
This spring Senator Obama indicated he believed the 2008 presidential campaign would be about two contemporaries from different generations with different ideals just talking about the issues.
This past June, Senator McCain suggested a series of ten Town Hall meetings to do just that. This was quickly followed by an invitation from the Reagan and Johnson Presidential Libraries offering their facilities for Town Hall meetings during July.
Being very familiar with the LBJ Library, I could close my eyes and see one hundred Austinites on the tenth floor of the LBJ Library surrounded by TV cameras and reporters. In walks Governor Perry, followed by James Steinberg (Dean of the LBJ School) and the Director of the Library Dr. Betty Sue Flowers. I could see Lynda (Johnson) Robb introduce Senators McCain and Obama; hand each a microphone; and watch the questions and answers fly.
Well, if only. It is now August. The Olympics are going strong. Both candidates are preparing for their party's convention.
Last week I mentioned my time in New Hampshire to a friend who happens to be an Obama supporter. We kind of talked out loud about the presidential race and the twists and turns it has taken and what the fall will bring. I then described my conversation with Bill Bradley and his belief, back in April, that this election could be different.
"Wow, wouldn't that have been nice," she said.
Well, it still could be... couldn't it?
TJ Costello
Austin Texas
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