Mellencamp's Music Off McCain's Playlist

by Jarrett Martineau | February 8, 2008 at 10:23 am

347 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

The choice of political campaign music is a hot-button issue at the best of times. The right song selections can added that extra bit of emotional impact, when they blast out over the speakers at a rally or event.

So what happens when you choose songs that don't reflect the message you're selling? Ask John McCain.

When the liberal rocker found out his songs were being played at events for Republican John McCain's presidential campaign, Mellencamp's publicist sent a letter that questioned the campaign's playlist.

"Are you sure you want to use his music to promote Senator McCain's efforts?" according to the letter sent to McCain's campaign on Monday. "Logic says that the facts might prove to be an embarrassment, were they to be circulated widely."

McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers in Washington, D.C., said Thursday that the songs would no longer be played. He declined to elaborate.

The letter explained Mellencamp was a liberal who had supported Democrat John Edwards, who recently dropped out of the race.

Publicist Bob Merlis said Mellencamp told him that the situation made him uncomfortable and he couldn't imagine McCain would want to be associated with him.