GOP insiders: McCain campaign aimless

WASHINGTON, July 2 (UPI) -- U.S. Republican Party strategists say they are becoming increasingly alarmed by the way likely presidential nominee John McCain is running his campaign.

Citing mainly anonymous sources within the party, the Washington Web site Politico reported Wednesday that GOP leaders are blasting strategic choices made by Sen. McCain, R-Ariz., criticizing what they see as its lack of organization and worrying about its lack of fundraising acumen.

"It's not just message or not having just one single meta-theme to compete with Obama," a source described as a veteran Republican strategist with close ties to McCain's top advisers told the Web site. "It's not just fundraising, which is mediocre. And it's not even just organization, which is (just) starting or nonexistent in many states."

Politico said some Republican officials are optimistic because there is still time for McCain's campaign to right itself. But most voiced grave concerns about aimlessness within a campaign that has failed to take advantage of a four-month head start on Democrats and has showed few signs of gaining traction.

"McCain's campaign seems not to have a game plan. I don't see a consistent message," Ed Rollins, a veteran of Republican presidential campaigns, told the Web site.