The Official TPM Tally: The McCains Own Eight To Eleven Houses
Here it is: The official TPM tally of precisely how many homes the McCains own. Everyone -- apparently including McCain himself -- has been working feverishly since yesterday to nail down this elusive number, with varying results.
And the grand total of houses the McCains own is...
...anywhere from eight to eleven homes, depending on how you count it.
The McCain campaign claims the Arizona Senator has four residences: Condos in Arlington, VA., and Coronado, CA., the main McCain residence in Phoenix, AZ., and a ranch in Sedona, AZ. A McCain adviser says the rest of the McCain properties are "some investment properties and things like that."
Not so much.
Here's our official list:
Arlington, VA: The McCains have a three-bedroom condo in Arlington, Virginia, for when McCain is in the DC area. It is valued at nearly $850,000. Total: One.
Arizona: Here's an example of how hard it is to keep track of how many houses McCain owns: The Arizona Republic reported in 2006 that the McCains bought two adjacent condominiums for $4.66 million, so they could combine them into a single mega-condo of over 6,000 square feet, for use as their main residence in Arizona. That's either one or two more. Total: Two to three.
Arizona: Cindy's corporation later bought another condo in the same building as the mega-condo, only on a different floor. Total: Three to four.
Coronado, CA: Then there are the two vacation condos they own in Coronado, California, which total $4.7 million. They initially just bought the first one, but Cindy decided to buy a second when her children began using the first one much more frequently. "So I bought another one," Cindy told Vogue. Total: Five to six.
Sedona, AZ: The McCains own a lot of three houses in their "Hidden Valley Ranch" area of Sedona, totaling over $1,081,000 in value, according to county records. This is the rustic location where McCain often entertains reporters and other guests. You can count this as anywhere from one to three houses -- one of them is a main residence, and the others are for guests and servants. Total: Six to nine.
La Jolla, CA: There's also their property in La Jolla, California, valued at over $1 million, where Cindy's aunt reportedly lives. (Fun fact: This is the same property for which the McCains were delinquent on their property taxes.) Total: Seven to 10.
Phoenix, AZ: Cindy's family trust also owns a $700,000 loft in Phoenix, which was purchased for use by their daughter Meghan after she graduated from college. As GQ put it, "the interior looks like a spaceship furnished by West Elm." Total: Eight to 11.
As it happens, there's still more. Cindy also owns other properties through her family corporations. But many of these are rental properties for homes and businesses. We've decided to take the conservative road, and not count rental properties towards the total, as they aren't really homes -- they're investments or sources of income.
So, depending on how you count it, the grand total of homes owned by the McCains is...
Eight to 11. At a combined value of $12,991,000.

But he was a POW, so just drop it.
August 22, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
And, if you don't we'll make up some really nasty crap about Obama.
August 22, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Anthrax, run!
August 22, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey now, don't force us to start negative campaigning against Obama! Because, you know, we weren't planning on it...
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
August 22, 2008 10:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Look over there, it's Reverend Wright!
August 22, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
No im pretty sure he was sent to a deserted island
Clinton Creates “Whip Team” 4 Convention
August 22, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, I came across an awesome new group on facebook: "Americans Who *Don't* Need Staff To Count All Their Houses"
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27940696679
Join up!
August 22, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Mansion Accomplished"!
August 22, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
At least McCain isn't a scary black man who probably wants to blow up the White House with Ayers.
August 22, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
No, McCain is just a scaryhanoicrazed white man who can't wait to blow up any country that is a Russian ally so that the Russians nuke us.
August 22, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely count them all.
Just try telling the American people that the guest house shouldn't count separately. That'll fly like a turd bucket.
August 22, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't forget the "servants'" quarters!
August 22, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
And the butler named Jeeves
August 22, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you TPM! You do good work, Eric.
August 22, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Does this mean Media Matters is going to call Obama's ad false for saying McCain owns seven houses and demand they increase the number? The Manna just keeps on falling...
http://pufferfish.typepad.com/
August 22, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great write up! Thanks for the link.
August 22, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks!
August 22, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm so loving this.
I just wish that the MSM would have picked up more on the Grampy Golddiger McCain's original responses to this.
He played the POW card (laughable) then they said "well they are all Cindy's houses, so it doesn't count" (great, so he is a kept man, I doubt most Americans know that, but they should) then they moved on to the REZKO, REZKO, REZKO, defense, never thinking that that openned him up to the much more damaging Keating 5 (or is it 6, I can't recall, I'll have my people get back to you on that) defense.
Ah, I just wished this had happened earlier in the week. Now Obama needs to move back his VP pick so as not to eclipse this story.
August 22, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
As a side note doesn't being a "kept man" make it much easier to be a "maverick?"
He never had to worry about losing his senate seat because the Senate salary was pocket change.
August 22, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Forget "maverick." Go with GIGOLO!
August 22, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a little Cheap Trick song on this theme...
August 22, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Man, I love me some Cheap Trick.
I remember when that record came out - nobody could get a handle on what the hell they were. Punk? Hard rock? New Wave?
Nah. Great band, period.
August 22, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nah, nobody will believe Yoda's granddpa is a giggilo, a golddigger yes, a giggilo no.
August 22, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let's put it in quiz form, just for kicks.
Oprah is to Steadman as Cindy McCain is to:
a) John Negroponte
b) Emelda Marcos
c) Tek Jansen
d) John McCain
e) Scrambles (the Death Dealer)
August 22, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let's not forget, too, that this was exactly the narrative the right hammered home about Kerry and the Heinz fortune.
August 22, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know having something to pounce on makes everyone feel better, especially after the last few days, so yeah.
But I still think this is weak and short-term and that Obama can do better than that.
I think that because of playing up someone's gaffe has never been a long-term strategy between the convention and November.
Secondly, the reason they rolled it out now, just a few days before Denver, suggests this is not a long-term thing.
Yes, a million times better than nothing, but not a game-changer yet.
August 22, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's more than just pouncing on someone's gaffe. It's using McCain's own words (or lack thereof) to help fill in the McCain Brand.
It's not just that he doesn't know how many houses he owns, it's coupled with his numerous quotes on the solid state of the economy, which drives home the idea that he's out of touch.
It's like how Hillary's bosnia gaffe was big in and of itself, but, moreso, it went to her credibility problem.
August 22, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly, it is brand identification.
If Obama can change the equation from "maverick" to "out of touch golddigger" this election is over.
August 22, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree hyperRevue, this is more than just a gaffe - ladies and gentlemen, this is the beginning of a narrative.
August 22, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I would agree with you if your argument suggests that essentially Obama is trying to replay the Bill Clinton/Bob Dole campaign.
This housing thing could probably go there.
Personally, I think it could happen if he picked Clinton for VP and used both Clintons to expand and improve his message:
- himself on change and post-partisanship etc
- Hillary on nat'l security
- Bill on economy
Then, it would be like an allied front on several levels at once. Then, okay, you do the Clinton/Dole thing and this house incident indeed becomes part of the narrative.
Or, maybe I'm just fantasizing, lol
August 22, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe, but Bill should stay the f out of it. It would be about Hillary and Hillary only. Bill's become a liability. He's doing great things with his foundation, let him continue to do great things there.
But this is besides the point. We all know it won't be Hillary.
August 22, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
What he said.
The value of HouseGate is that it swipes McGoo's "elitist" line of attack right off the table. Three months of very expensive framing by Camp McGoo has just been flushed down the toilet.
August 22, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
McSame needs Cindy's help dealing with anything solid state. He's much more of a vacuum tube man.
August 22, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I voted for it before I voted against it" ring any bells?
August 22, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Also, Dukakis + tank. September 1988.
August 22, 2008 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm inclined to think the reason they rolled this out when they did is just that the opportunity presented itself. Hey, if you're in the high slot and get a lane to the net, shoot the puck!
August 22, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Also, note that Arizona is a community property state. This usually means that both spouses own an undivided share of everything acquired during their marriage. There are exceptions, of course.
August 22, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wouldn't you love to get a look at their pre-nup?
August 22, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now that's an extremely interesting angle. It should be part of any financial documents of his which should have been produced, since it specifies his property rights in the fortune.
August 22, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pre-nups are for pre-martial property only. They don't apply to assets aquired during a marriage.
August 22, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
*marital not martial - although...one might wonder oabout the other.
August 22, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Without getting too far down in the weeds on this, if she purchased the homes with her separate property and maintained them with her own funds, then they would remain her individual property. John McCain doesn't make enough money from his book sales or Senate salary to contribute to the maintenance on most of the homes. He's, in a word, a kept man....
August 22, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually that's two words. ;)
I'm guessing that Cindy's estate had the good sense to get a prenup on John that precludes him from cashing in on the increased value of her estate's investments (provided that he did not contribute to any of it).
In a way, I do have to respect McCain for finding his sugar mama. Something I've not been able to achieve.
August 22, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
No.
Pre-nups can apply to assets acquired during marriage (they just don't have to).
August 22, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
The McCain camp's response of "they're Cindy's homes, quit attacking her!" is just so damn laughable. If any of those homes were purchased since they've been married, they're his homes too!
August 22, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Was she a POW?
August 22, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
One could possibly argue that living with John....
August 22, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
She mentioned he was balding and he called her a cunt.
That kind of temper makes one wonder if she gets smacked around from time to time.
August 22, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not if they were purchased by her corporation...and if assets from the trust haven't been comingled with marital assets...could've been a prenup...don't mean to spoil your fun with facts and stuff...
August 22, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, Arizona is a community property state. So what Cindy owns, McCain owns as well.
August 22, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
No fun spoiled here at all. If you read further up thread I acknowledge that it's possible for there to have been a prenup in place.
I don't think the public is going to care about the particulars -- why bother them with all that pointy-headed stuff, right? All they're hearing is that McCain is so obscenely wealthy that he doesn't even know how many homes he owns. That in itself is going to define McCain during this campaign.
August 22, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Every minute spent talking about whether the houses are owned by Cindy's corporation and/or whether they are covered in the McCain pre-nup to explain why John doesn't know how many houses he owns is money in the bank for Obama.
More, please.
August 22, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
PRECISELY!!!
Let this snowball into an avalanche that encompasses his being a kept man, her being a druggie and them needing all those houses just so they can be together to fly to them.
August 22, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
One House, One Spouse, Obama, 08
repeat...
August 22, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nice
August 22, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's a good one. It could stick.
August 22, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Perfect!
August 22, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
But not one name, or religion, or citizenship.
Nice.
August 22, 2008 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink