John McCain Doesn’t Know How Many Homes He Owns

Republican Presidential nominee-to-be Sen. John McCain has just made a gaffe that will test whether Democratic Party strategists are ready to contest the election or whether they will (a) be negative role models for future college political science students and/or (b) should be sued for negligence.

Some of us can’t tell you know many pairs of socks we have, but McCain doesn’t know how many houses he has, according to The Politico:

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in an interview Wednesday that he was uncertain how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own.

“I think — I’ll have my staff get to you,” McCain told Politico in Las Cruces, N.M. “It’s condominiums where — I’ll have them get to you.”

The correct answer is at least four, located in Arizona, California and Virginia, according to his staff. Newsweek estimated this summer that the couple owns at least seven properties.

This is the kind of gaffe that Republicans would be all over — using it in ads, derisively raising it and mocking it on talk radio shows, plastering all over the cable political shows, using it as part of the talking points, putting it print ads and even raising it in passing during a political debate. The reason: in these economic times it’s incomprehensible that someone doesn’t know how many homes they own — or can’t give a rough figure when asked about it.

And then there is the context.

McCain supposedly broke with his close friend and adviser Phil Gramm after Gramm — who himself has no problem worrying about his health care, his car (or limo) payments, losing his home or paying his grocery bill — asserted that the U.S. is a country merely in a “mental recession” comprised of a bunch of “whiners.” But Gramm was recently at McCain’s side and there have been some reports now with sources speculating he could have a post in a McCain administration ….perhaps Secretary of the Treasury.

[SEE TWO UPDATES BELOW]

The big issue for the Democrats is whether they are in the same fighting mode as the Republicans. Efforts are still underway by the GOP to find and get negative information about Obama’s college days into the mainstream media — and the media is in pursuit. Which is it’s job: to see who really lurks behind the carefully constructed campaign facade.

McCain’s gaffe — coupled with continuing signs that he could have an adviser or cabinet secretary in the administration who pooh-poohs America’s financial condition and who seemingly thinks Americans are spineless complainers due to the the financial horror story many now face every day — raises the same issue. Will the Democrats use it or respond with a perfunctory and fleeting reply for one news cycle?

Are the Democrats going to play the football game on the official field where the game is played by traditional rules and where the game is actually decided? Or are they going to continue to decide to play the game seemingly alone on an unofficial field by rules they set using themselves…rules by which the judges won’t definitely decide the game?

Inquiring political junkies’ minds want to know:

Is Obama going to fight the election the Chicago Way? Or the Transcendental Meditation Way?

UPDATE 1: Hotline On Call has this:

So what’s worse? Obama’s affection for arugula, or McCain’s inability to remember how many properties he owns?

The GOPer’s team knows that, particularly given the role the economy is playing in the contest, the episode could be damaging. Here’s McCain spokesman Brian Rogers’ push back:

“Does a guy who made more than $4 million last year, just got back from vacation on a private beach in Hawaii and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses? Does a guy who worries about the price of arugula and thinks regular people “cling” to guns and religion in the face of economic hardship really want to have a debate about who’s in touch with regular Americans? The reality is that Barack Obama’s plans to raise taxes and opposition to producing more energy here at home as gas prices skyrocket show he’s completely out of touch with the concerns of average Americans.”

The problem for the GOP: not knowing how many houses you have is a terrible mental IMAGE and one that will stick in the minds of voters. Those upset by Obama’s “clinging to guns” are political outraged. Those impacted by him not remembering the number of houses he has are stunned.

UPDATE II: Obama has used the gaffe in a new ad:

HERE’S A CROSS-SECTION OF REACTION TO THIS STORY:

–Marc Ambinder (a reliable reporter as well as an excellent blogger and writer):

The Obama campaign wants voters to get this message: “How can a guy who doesn’t know how many houses he owns, or what it means to be rich possibly feel your pain?”

The Obama campaign is officially sanctioning an attack on John McCain’s wealth and lifestyle — the first time they’ve been willing to go there.

The proximate cause is McCain’s fumbling answer to Politico about the number of houses he owns. (”. “I think — I’ll have my staff get to you”)

–Matthew Yglesias:

Amenities aside, though, this is one reason why it’s a bit unfair to tag McCain as out of touch for being unable to remember how many homes he owns. When one of your homes is really a combination of two different luxury condos the metaphysical status of your property comes into question. You’d really need to ask a trained professional mereologist to resolve the issue and can’t expect McCain to speak to it personally.

–Obsidian Wings’ Hilzoy:

Just the other day I asked myself: self, how many pens do you have? And honestly, I just couldn’t remember. Did I or did I not put a ballpoint from the Karachi Sheraton in my briefcase by mistake? And what about the one that sort of exploded the other day while I was checking my phone messages: did I actually throw it away? And the one I bought in a moment of folly back in the 80s, the one with the sparkly green ink that has completely dried up because I never actually used it: is it still lurking somewhere in my office?

Honestly: it can be hard to keep track of these things. So I say: cut John McCain a break.

–Hot Air’s Allahpundit:

It’ll help Obama marginally — the appeal of class warfare is evergreen, especially in a bad economy — but it’d help a lot more if McCain actually looked the part Obama’s trying to make him play. Americans are used to the idea of politicians being filthy rich; it’s not wealth itself that puts fangs into the attack, it’s how wealth suggests luxury, entitlement, softness, and selfishness. Good luck with that, Barry. …It’s high time for a Rezko ad, just like it was high time for an Ayers ad yesterday.

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