by Jill Zuckman
PRESCOTT, Ariz. - The steps of the Yavapai County Courthouse are where Arizona politicians start their campaigns and they are where they bring them to a close.
At 12:30 a.m. Mountain time, Sen. John McCain returned to the place where Barry Goldwater, a Republican political icon, began and ended his 1964 presidential quest. A giant American flag draped the courthouse columns while supporters massed on the lawn and spilled down the streets.
McCain has similarly come to this spot, once the territorial capital, for his statewide campaigns. This morning, he was back to put a symbolic bow on his quest for the White House. By Tuesday afternoon, he'll be campaigning in Grand Junction, Colorado and visiting campaign volunteers in Albuquerque, N.M. before returning home to Phoenix for election night results.
This was his second midnight rally in a row on a day when he had logged 3,704 miles and hit seven states beginning in Florida. Clearly, the journey has taken an emotional toll. Cindy McCain choked back tears when she introduced "my husband John McCain." And when McCain said "God bless America, it's wonderful to be home," there was a quaver in his voice.
Still, he couldn't resist an exuberant rendition of the story about how "mothers don't tell their children they can grow up to be president" because of all the past failed efforts by Arizona politicians.
"Tomorrow, we are going to reverse that unhappy tradition and I'm going to be president of the United States," said McCain, never referring to his opponent, Sen. Barack Obama.
"It's been a long, long journey to get the nomination and we've got one more day," he said, urging supporters to volunteer and help get out the vote so that he can bring change to Washington and "get the country back on track again.
And he acknowledged that the people in this particular crowd have been connected to him longer than many of the people he has spoken to in battleground states around the country.
"I thank you for the years you've allowed me to serve the state of Arizona," said McCain, promising to never let them down.
Comments
Cincinnatus returns to his ranch. For good, we hope.
Meanwhile, here in Hyde Park, we're getting used to barricades, motorcades, and unmarked Chicago police cars full of swat teams in full battle gear.
In short: the Western White House comes to Hyde Park.
Wait till the Olympics comes here.
Old time Hyde Parkers never thought our idiosyncratic little neighborhood would be flooded with paparazzi.
Posted by: ornery | November 4, 2008 9:21 AM
ornery needs to grow up. Is this all the election is about???
Posted by: Chicago Native | November 4, 2008 6:29 PM