Carly's McCain Campaign

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If you look at the history of past elections, when the economy goes bad, the incumbent party gets blamed and turned out of office. With the U.S. facing recession, that's a key reason many analysts say that the current situation favors the Democrats come November. When you're talking with donors and business executives, what pitch do you make to them to overlook that history and back McCain?

First, I would say conventional wisdom has been consistently wrong in this campaign. On both sides. So I think we need to look to the realities. And I think most businesspeople that I talk to think that John McCain has a very good chance of winning, and that's what everyone's polls say.

When the economy is going bad, food prices are increasing, gas prices are increasing, do you want your taxes to increase as well? I don't think so. When American businesses are struggling to compete around the world, do you want to continue to pay the second-highest tax rate in the world? I don't think so. When you're struggling to figure out how to pay for health care and send your kids to college at the same time, do you really want your government making those choices for you? I don't think so. When times are tough, do you want more money in your own pocket and more power to make your own choices or do you want less money in your own pocket and less money to make your own choices? I think it's a pretty clear choice.

On economic issues, what other business executives does McCain consult with? Does he have a "Kitchen Cabinet" among executives?

I don't want to say that he has a Kitchen Cabinet, a group of people that he huddles with all the time, but he has broad support within the business community. Just to name a few: [Merrill Lynch CEO] John Thain, [Cisco Systems CEO] John Chambers. These are two executives who have been with him for a very long time. We just announced [eBay CEO] Meg Whitman is joining us as co-chair to his campaign.

Much of the energy in the race so far as been on the Democratic side, and that's been reflected in the fund-raising totals as well. What will you need to do to reverse that trend and crank up the fund-raising on your side?

Obviously we need to raise more money, we're very focused on raising more money. John and others have been out broadening the base of people we talk to and communicate with, and I think you'll continue to see that happen. But I'm also not concerned about generating excitement on our side. If you just step back for a moment, the Republican National Committee has been able to raise far more money than the Democratic National Committee, so if you put all the money in, I think we stack up better than it would appear if you're just looking at the candidates. Now that we have a nominee, and now that the contrasts are so stark between our nominee and whoever the Democratic nominee is, I think you'll see lots of energy.

If McCain wins, where do you yourself going? What role is ahead for you in a future Administration?

You know, I signed on not for something in the future, I signed on because I think this election is important and that's what I'm focused on right now.

There have been various rumors out there—that you might become Secretary of Commerce, even Secretary of State.

I'm not going to comment on them. People can talk all day long, but I'm not adding to that conversation.

Is it true you considered a run for governor of California?

I have not considered that in the past.