Former VP Dan Quayle '69 Sees "Uphill Battle" for GOP Presidential Hopeful John McCain

July 5, 2008

July 5, 2008, Greencastle, Ind. - America's 44th Vice President, 1969 DePauw University graduate Dan Quayle, says "he respects Democrat Barack Obama 'because he beat the Clintons' and fears Republican John McCain faces an 'uphill battle' to defeat him in November's presidential election," according to the Associated Press. "He also acknowledged that a year ago at this time, he expected Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Mitt Romney to meet in the general election," writes Scott Sonner.

"I don't think anyone saw, including myself, the Barack Obama movement" coming, Quayle said at a teleconference call promoting the July 11-13 American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe, which he will participate in. "I have a lot of grudging respect for what he did because he beat the Clintons, something we couldn't do in 1992. The Clintons were very convincing in the campaign they ran. So I thought she would be the candidate."

Of Hillary Clinton, Quayle, who served in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, added, "I think she made obviously some very tactical mistakes. One, underestimating Obama. And, two, the whole inevitability that 'I am entitled to the nomination' ended up hurting her quite dramatically."

Asked about John McCain's prospects in November, Quayle declared, "It's not a year to be a Republican, but if anyone can do it, he can do it. Polls show most people want change and change wins a lot of the time. I hope McCain wins, but to be very fair, he has an uphill battle." The former vice president believes Sen. McCain needs to articulate "a clear vision of what he wants to do as president. How does he see the world internationally, domestically and what is he going to do? I think we need to have a clear vision and have it described rhetorically and as part of the big picture so the American people can believe again," he said.

Read the full article at the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Dan Quayle was among those who paid tribute to longtime DePauw golf coach Ted Katula at a November 2005 event.  Learn more in this previous story.

Quayle is currently chairman of global investments for Cerberus Capital Management. On May 22, 1982, he delivered the commencement address at his alma mater.

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