Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

McCain's Men: The Team Behind the Turnaround

'Sedona Five' crack team of loyalists revamped battle

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 7, 2008 9:50 AM CST
Email

(Newser) – John McCain's back-from-the-dead presidential bid can attribute its triumph to a number of factors: the successes of the Iraq surge, the rise of Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani's concession in New Hampshire. But before any of those game-changing events, the McCain comeback was engineered by a small, crack team of loyalists who remained with the candidate when his organization bled employees and money, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The "Sedona Five"—whose name comes from the meetings they held at the Arizona senator's cabin—spent last summer revamping the candidate's message, and developing a small-state media strategy. "Every decision had to be subordinate to winning New Hampshire," said Mark Salter, McCain's aide of nearly two decades. By Wednesday the Sedona Five were having lunch at the White House, where McCain told reporters he doesn't plan to change anybody on his team.

Mark Salter, senior adviser to Republican nominee-in-waiting, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens as McCain speaks at a news conference, Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Mark Salter, senior adviser to Republican nominee-in-waiting, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens as McCain speaks at a news conference, Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at the Republican National Committee headquarters...   (Associated Press)
Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., smiles as members of the press board his campaign plane before leaving San Antonio,Texas, en route to Houston Tuesday morning, March 4, 2008. Senior advisor Mark Salter, left, checks his smart phone for the latest poll results as voters in Texas, Ohio,...
Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., smiles as members of the press board his campaign plane before leaving San Antonio,Texas, en route to Houston Tuesday morning, March 4, 2008....   (Associated Press)
Mark Salter, senior adviser to Republican nominee-in-waiting, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens as McCain speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Mark Salter, senior adviser to Republican nominee-in-waiting, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens as McCain speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at the Republican National Committee...   (Associated Press)
Sen. John McCain, second from left, talks on his campaign plane March 4, 2008. Senior advisor Mark Salter, left, checks his smart phone for the latest poll results as he talks with McCain senior advisor Steve Schmidt, right. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Sen. John McCain, second from left, talks on his campaign plane March 4, 2008. Senior advisor Mark Salter, left, checks his smart phone for the latest poll results as he talks with McCain senior advisor...   (Associated Press)
Mark McKinnon, left, media consultant for Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and spokesperson Brooke Buchanan, right, listen as McCain speaks at a press conference with Rev. John Hagee, a televangelist from Cornerstone Church, and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald...
Mark McKinnon, left, media consultant for Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and spokesperson Brooke Buchanan, right, listen as McCain speaks at a press conference with Rev. John...   (Associated Press)
Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, descends a staircase with, from left to right, senior adviser Steve Schmidt, campaign media adviser Mark McKinnon, and wife Cindy McCain, at their hotel in Charleston, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, the morning after McCain's South Carolina presidential primary victory. (AP...
Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, descends a staircase with, from left to right, senior adviser Steve Schmidt, campaign media adviser Mark McKinnon, and wife Cindy McCain,...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Profile of Mark McKinnon
Boston Globe

 
John McCain • Republican presidential primaries • New Hampshire primary • Election 2008 • Sedona Five • Mark Salter

More Newser Stories

Obama Ties Clinton in NH

How Revolving Narratives Swamped Would-Be Narrator

Meghan McCain: I'll Get NH Tattoo If Dad Wins

As McCain Shaped Book, Book Shaped McCain

McCain '08: Difficult But Doable
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne