McCain On The Convention, Lieberman

Here's an except from an interview Sen. John McCain have to to NBC News's Brian Williams today:

WILLIAMS:       So you're going to convert the free media time and attention that this four day gathering will have and-- and try to steer that into the cause?

MCCAIN: Certainly for tomorrow night.  Certainly for tomorrow night.  And then I think I'm-- after the hurricane passes we'll see what-- what the situation is.  If it just requires still America's effort devoted in that direction of helping the recovery, then that's what we'll do.  If it's, I pray God, not as bad as we think and we can go on with the business of the convention we'll go on.  But frankly-- I think that's gonna be difficult.  But I think we can.  But Monday night, certainly it's-- it's all about America.

WILLIAMS:       I've heard a possibility you'll deliver your acceptance speech by satellite from the region depending on how bad it is and how quickly it clears?

MCCAIN: Yeah, we're jamming, you know, all possibilities and all scenarios.  I hope that by that time we will have had significant recovery efforts-- in movement and-- but I-- we'll have to just really judge it day by day.  But for now, everything political on hold.

WILLIAMS:       It's been reported in today's papers that you-- without diminishing Governor Palin, you really wanted your friend Joe Lieberman.  And some conservative state chairs-- threatened a floor fight over that.

MCCAIN:  have no knowledge of that.  Look, the close relationship I have with my beloved friend Joe Lieberman, I'll tell you the last words he said to me before I made the selection.  He said, "John, I want you to do what's best for this country.  And I'll be at your side."  And I'm-- I was very touched by that.  And so, it had everything to do with my judgment about what we can do to change things in Washington.  And a person with a record of accomplishment and a true reformer.  And I love Joe Lieberman.  I have the greatest respect and affection for the others that we considered-- but-- he was the first to call me and say, "Great choice".