McCain in trouble, Republicans say

WASHINGTON, May 25 (UPI) -- Resignations by high-ranking strategists and a disorganized national campaign threatens Sen. John McCain's race for the U.S. presidency, Republicans say.

Some party leaders say the McCain team has so far failed to unite Republicans nationally as President George Bush did during his 2004 re-election bid. Other leaders worry McCain's conflicting messages on a variety of Republican issues leave his platform in disarray, The New York Times reported Sunday.

Top McCain adviser Steve Schmidt said, however, that the Arizona senator has refined his message in campaign stops across the country while generating enough money to at least stay competitive with Democratic rivals Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York through the summer, the Times said.

Though records show the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee have about $11 million more cash on hand compared to the front-running Obama, some strategists remain concerned about McCain's viability.

"I think any Republican who doesn't say panic is in the wind is lying through their shirt." says Ron Kaufman, an campaign adviser for former Republican presidential contender and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.