Sen. John McCain talks to the press following a political rally in Peterborough, January 5, 2008. (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)
by Jill Zuckman
Peterborough, N.H. – It was déjà vu all over again for Sen. John McCain today.
At his 100th town hall meeting this year, McCain returned to the Peterborough town hall, greeted by an over-capacity crowd similar to the one that was there eight years ago. This time, more than 200 people stood outside, unable to breach the masses standing in the doorways and along the walls.
"This is very nostalgic for us," McCain said afterwards, as red, white and blue confetti and streamers rained down.
Feeling confident just three days before the New Hampshire primary, McCain stuck to his usual approach, talking about Iraq, Islamic extremism and every other possible topic depending upon the whims of the voters who came to question him.
Asked what he needs to do to close the deal with voters, McCain said he planned no changes to his steady diet of town hall meetings.
"I think keep doing what we're doing," he said.
Asked whether he would talk more about his chief rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, McCain said he would stick to themes of honesty, integrity, trust and confidence, and the willingness to do the hard things.
"I'm not running against Romney," McCain said. "I'm running for the presidency."
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Comments
John McCain voted against Bush tax cuts, for amnesty for illegals,against free political speech he contrived McCain/Feingold.Mccain is anything but a conservative.
The driveby media were all over him in the beginning. Then, they turned on him and down he went.
Now, they want him back to stop conservatives from nominating the GOP Presidential candidate.
Huckabee is a populist fad the won't last and neither will McCain.
Romney and Giuliani are in good postion to take the nomination. Ron Paul is out to lunch. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | January 6, 2008 9:40 AM
John McCain voted against Bush tax cuts, for amnesty for illegals,against free political speech he contrived McCain/Feingold.Mccain is anything but a conservative.
The driveby media were all over him in the beginning. Then, they turned on him and down he went.
Now, they want him back to stop conservatives from nominating the GOP Presidential candidate.
Huckabee is a populist fad the won't last and neither will McCain.
Romney and Giuliani are in good postion to take the nomination. Ron Paul is out to lunch. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | January 6, 2008 9:41 AM
For all his play upon heartstrings for his Viet Nam service, McCain, in my book, embodies the quintessential characteristic of Republicanism - self-righteousness. He tries very hard to project an image of humility and candor, but is at his core a mean SOB, who the Republicans will very likely nominate at their own peril. He will eventually be exposed as not being a people person.
His supposed great strength is his foreign policy and security knowledge and experience, but that will eventually be exposed as his greatest weakness, especially with respect to the Iraq war and his position on Iran. Imagine a person who in 2008 is still fighting the Viet Nam war in his mind. That rarely comes across, but it is there. Someone who has seen the horrors of war should have been standing on his desk in Congress and screaming at the top of his voice to push back on the war authorization vote until every option imaginable had been exercised. But to this day he is virtually ecstatic about that decision. His parody of "bomb bomb bomb Iran" is sick was sick though he thought he was being cute. In South Carolina a woman supporter referred to Hillary as a B, and he went along with the repugnant comment.
I've seen so many people like McCain who appear genuine in their likability, but when away from the crowd they are as nasty as they come. He would make a very creepy president.
Posted by: GW | January 6, 2008 10:19 AM