by Jill Zuckman
Goffstown, N.H. - A sentimental and nostalgic John McCain returned to the state that has rewarded him time and again, reminiscing about the "hundreds" of town hall meetings he has held to meet with the voters he knows best.
"I love you, I love New Hampshire, I know I can count on you again," McCain told voters at the Saint Anselm College hockey rink. "My friends, I'm asking you to come out one more time, get out the vote, get 'em out and we'll win and we'll have a great election night.
"And my friends, some of my happiest, happiest memories are being here in this wonderful state," McCain continued. "I feel I know you. And I feel a great sense of pride in the independence and spirit, and the knowledge, and the way that people are when they judge the candidates."
Although the crowd was not particularly large, it was enthusiastic, and McCain seemed more emotional today than he has in recent weeks as polls show he is slipping further behind Sen. Barack Obama. He even told two of his favorite jokes about Mo Udall, the Arizona congressman who ran unsuccessfully for president.
For example, a man walked into a barber shop and said, "'Hi, I'm Morris Udall from Arizona and I'm running for president of the United States,' and the barber said, 'yeah, we were just laughing about that.' "
McCain noted that that is the way his campaign started in New Hamsphire, back in 2000, "but it's not the way it ended."
That year, McCain shellacked Texas Gov. George W. Bush, beating him in New Hampshire by 19 points.
This year, McCain started as the front runner, but his campaign ran out of money and he parted ways with most of his staff. Counted out politically, McCain fought his way back here in N.H., talking to voters and winning their trust once more. Ultimately, he won the New Hampshire primary and then the nomination.
"I've learned a lot over the years from the people of this state - and I know one thing for certain, it doesn't matter what the pundits think or how confident my opponent is," McCain said. "The people of New Hampshire make their own decisions and more than once they've ignored the polls and the pundits and brought me across the finish line first. I can't think of any place I'd like to be as Election Day draws close, than running an underdog campaign in the state of New Hampshire."
McCain has spoken often of the people he met here as he continued to campaign for the nomination and then traveled across the country in the general election.
"Since I'm back here I'd just like to say again my feelings, and my warmth and my love for Erin and Jim Flanagan - Erin, whose brother was killed in Iraq, and mentioned it at the first debate we had here in New Hampshire after Labor Day," he said. "And of course, Jim and Lynn Savage, whose son, Matthew Stanley was sacrificed a year ago, just two years ago at Christmas. I'm always thinking of them. I'm always with them. I wear Matthew Stanley's bracelet every single day - and I will every single day for the rest of my life. Thank you for their service."
Comments
MAN ON FIVE, Cook County, Monday -- The McCain campaign is looking at an Electoral College strategy heading into the final two weeks that has virtually no room for error.
"Democrat voting fraud is famous since Tammany Hall," says Republican strategist Karl Rove. "So we'll win without votes."
Voting machines have been remotely reset and the counts adjusted. "Diebold have come to the party big time." Touch screen machines for West Virginia early voting offer voters "McCAIN" or "REPLY HAZY, TRY AGAIN LATER."
The rolls will be thoroughly checked for voter fraud. "If the typeface or font size is different on their driver's licence, Social Security or the voter roll, that's obvious blatant fraud. A typical Liberal knife to the heart of democracy."
The party will check for dead voters as well. "We're making the safe assumption that all registered Democrats are dead. If they're not, we'll correct that." Governor Palin has long dealt with Democrat moose in Alaska. "You betcha!"
All residents of properties whose mortgages were underwritten by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac will be assumed to have voted Republican. "We own the houses, of course we own the votes. It's nonsense to say otherwise."
Finally, under USA-PATRIOT, Obama supporters will be deemed associates of associates of terrorists. The offence will carry a penalty of one day's imprisonment: November 4th.
Mr Rove is confident in the future of our democracy. "One man, one vote. That man being me."
Source: http://tinyurl.com/5cc3ve
Posted by: David Gerard | October 22, 2008 12:22 PM
Nit picking McCain's visit as part of campaign rights?? And what? Gagging him!
It's not all about wearing a Mickey Mouse hat and looking cool.
What are the platform idioms here.
Posted by: Lulu Zoe West | October 22, 2008 12:39 PM