One of the brief news teasers on NPR this morning was a bit of a surprise: McCain is cutting down on media exposure.
I paraphrase, after having heard the teaser before the 7AM and 8AM newscasts (but not before the 9AM): "John McCain is changing his campaign strategy by limiting the opportunities that the public and the media will have to ask him questions." Will update if I find a link, but I hope that this should be all over the news outlets soon, assuming NPR had something behind the story.
Update 9:45 AM Found the story (with audio) on NPR.org:
McCain's Freewheeling Days With Media Curtailed
Reporters traveling with Sen. John McCain haven't gotten a chance to ask the Republican presidential hopeful a lot of questions this week. Instead of open-ended news conferences, McCain has been offering up carefully scripted statements.
It's part of a deliberate strategy by the campaign to keep the press corps — and the candidate — on a shorter leash between now and Election Day.
Smart move, man -- it's not as if public appearances were winning you any more votes. Better to focus entirely on the under-the-radar smears and tire-gauge BS while waiting for Obama to make a mistake.
It also may become a tool for the campaign -- he can complain about not getting any exposure in the media, and insist that whenever he does grant a (meticulously planned and rehearsed) audience, it should be all over the airwaves. I wonder if this has something to do with the meme that we're getting bored with Obama.