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Article: The Happy Maverick Drives Into a Ditch: In the end, McCain couldn't sustain the magic of the Straight Talk Express. Why he ran off the road.(John McCain)(National Affairs)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Newsweek
- Article date:
- March 20, 2000
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John McCain seemed defined by his bus. While George W. Bush flew above in a jet named Great Expectations--or in a quiet charter bus surrounded only by aides--McCain rattled happily along in the Straight Talk Express. Instead of hiding with his handlers, McCain wolfed down jelly doughnuts and gabbed with reporters who, contrary to modern campaign stereotypes, were friendly and forgiving. McCain was having the time of his life, cracking jokes and making fun of his own staff, who seemed to be along mostly for the ride.
Then the picture darkened. McCain seemed to retreat into something reporters and staffers called "the bubble," his traveling entourage. His inner ...