John McCain's former campaign strategist said he was too disillusioned to vote for him in the 2008 presidential election

• John McCain's former campaign strategist said he didn't vote for him in the 2008 presidential election.
• Steve Schmidt said he was "completely unfit to be president."

John McCain's former campaign strategist said he didn't vote for him in the 2008 presidential election because he became so disillusioned by him.

"The only conceivable conclusion that you could get to after watching his conduct in this campaign was that he's completely unfit to be president," Schmidt told Politico's Playbook Deep Dive podcast.

"Truth is, I didn't vote for him either," Schmidt said, revealing that he instead left his ballot blank.

In an essay posted to Substack on Sunday, Schmidt revealed that he lied to discredit a 2008 New York Times article that reported on McCain's close relationship with a lobbyist.

The New York Times reported that lobbyist Vicki Iseman received special treatment from McCain and detailed speculations that their relationship had turned romantic.

Schmidt said he lied on McCain's behalf to protect his reputation, despite knowing about his close relationship with the lobbyist.

"John McCain did a lot of great things, he did a lot of heroic things, right, and he did some bad things. And he absolutely betrayed me," Schmidt told the Politico podcast.

Schmidt also said that he regretted playing a part in the rise of Sarah Palin, McCain's running mate, who Schmidt has described as a "degenerate liar."

During the Politico podcast, Schmidt said that McCain was a "reckless man" and suggested that if elected, his administration would have had similarities with Donald Trump's.

"This is the greatest disillusioning experience of my life," Schmidt said. "This guy was a hero of mine."

Schmidt has also exchanged harsh words with Meghan McCain, the late senator's daughter, in recent weeks.