McCain On The Record

ARLINGTON, VA -- Sen. John McCain invited a cadre of the nation's top political reporters (and for some reason, me, ) to lunch today and used the occasion to reflect on his recent trip to Iraq and sketch out the next thirty days.

The news nuggets:

## "We're fine," McCain said of his campaign's finances. There's been no decision to tap into the public till just yet. The campaign recently secured a $3M loan.

## Said he wished John Edwards still referrred to the military escalation in Iraq as the "McCain surge." Gently criticized Rudy Giuliani: "The former mayor of New York City has never been to Iraq..." While in Iraq, McCain allowed that he observed a military interrogation and was told by the base commander that the techniques permitted by the Army Field Manual were more than enough to get the information out of those detained.

## Acknowledged that "immigration hurts" him in South Carolina but was confident; said his campaign had begun to gel in New Hampshire; acknowledged that in Iowa, "we have a great deal of work to do." McCain returns to Iowa and NH next week and is in SC tomorrow. Admitted that he had to "do really well" in New Hampshire in order to survive the campaign.

## Said he remained friends with Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson, said he's taken a real shine to Mike Huckabee, and said he doesn't know Romney enough to be friendly. Huckabee, McCain said, was "the genuine article."

Comments

Nice invite, Marc.

McCain always comes across as a real winner of a person. Knows when to keep thew politi-speak bottled up.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by matt | November 26, 2007 4:15 PM

McCain definitely is more upfront that Rudy or Mitt. Rudy's ethics are in serious question and Mitt is all politics all the time. He tells people that is very reasonsable to change your mind. However, he might or should I say will change his mind once he got into office.

However as a voting Republican for many years I am really disgusted with where the party has gone. We have some serious issues people. Ones, that go way beyond whose is more conservative and who can beat who in certain formats.

For this reason I am voting Paul. Everyone knows that he is the most straight forward and honest candidate. I don't like all his views but he is the most SANE candidate we have. He will at least do what he says he is going to do.

Posted by bgodley | November 26, 2007 5:33 PM

Agree with Matt. I sure wish fellow conservatives could see that McCain stands on principle. Even when you disagree with him, as I did on immigration and do on some aspects of campaign finance reform, you know the guy is coming at it from the right place. Everything is based on principle. I'm sorry, but Guiliani may have performed admirably AFTER 9-11 and he seems to be a pretty good law and order type guy, but its easy to just be a hawk on these issues. Its much more difficult (and politically risky) to have more nuanced and principled stances, such as being for the war, yet opposing torture. It's also easy to just make up your positions as you go along in your political life to fit your current ambitions (Romney). Ah, just a little frustrated... dangerous world, have 4 kids ... don't want to screw this up ... feel very strongly that McCain can lead us ... wish others thought the same.

Posted by Joe | November 27, 2007 10:30 AM

I am a Conservative Democrat thinking of supporting John McCain .........he makes so much sense...and i feel his Presidency would be bi-partisan.

Posted by Scott Bowen | November 27, 2007 4:55 PM

After doing my due diligence with all of the republican candidates, I'm right back where I was at the beginning. John McCain seems to be a strong leader, means what he says and says what he means and I really respect that. I wholeheartedly support him for president. No other candidate even comes close to getting my vote.

Posted by Vickie Sanchez | November 29, 2007 12:16 PM