McCain campaigns in deeply blue Mass. in bipartisan display
BOSTON (AP) -- Republican John McCain came to the bluest of Democratic states Wednesday -- and heaped praise on former rival Mitt Romney -- in what he said was a display of the bipartisanship and friendliness he hopes to exhibit if he is elected president this fall.
The Arizona senator, addressing several hundred at a fundraiser that took in $2 million for his campaign, said partisan gridlock has paralyzed any sensible decision-making back on Capitol Hill. He described calling into the Senate floor recently, only to learn a 400-page volume was being read aloud as a stalling tactic.
"I know this is a tough state for us to win in. I'll give you some straight talk; it's a tough state for us to win in. But I want to go everywhere," the GOP nominee-in-waiting said.
McCain added: "I want to be president of everybody. There is nothing we need more now than a little bipartisanship and a little working across the aisle."
That said, both McCain and Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, did not shy from lambasting the presumed Democratic nominee, Barack Obama.
McCain challenged the Illinois senator to accept his challenge of one-on-one town hall meetings, prompting one woman in the audience to jab at Obama's speechmaking preference by yelling out, "No TelePrompTer."
The Navy veteran and former Vietnam prisoner of war also chastised the freshman senator for supporting an Iraqi troop withdrawal.
"We need a steady hand on the tiller. I don't need any on-the-job training," McCain said in comparing himself to Obama.
During his introduction, Romney was more sharp, saying Obama "is not ready for the leadership of our country at such a critical time."
The former governor also led a chorus of mutual praise between the two rivals, who clashed sharply during the Michigan primary -- which Romney won -- and in a rematch in Florida -- which provided a decisive win for McCain.
Romney, a potential running mate, described his recent weekend visit to McCain's Sedona, Ariz., ranch along with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. He said the senator was a master griller who also identified 57 different types of birds on the ranch.
"This is a wonderful man who I've come to know on a personal basis, and I commend him to you as a wonderful father and friend. He's also what America needs right now," Romney said.
McCain also labeled Romney "a wonderful family man" and said of his wife, "We have all grown to love Ann Romney."
The senator added: "We ran a tough campaign. We ran an honorable campaign. And I am honored, deeply honored, by his friendship and support."
On Thursday, McCain was returning to New Hampshire, where he bested Romney in the nation's first presidential primary, for a townhall meeting in Nashua.
