McCain addresses age issue
By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff
PEMBROKE, N.H. -- John McCain is 71 years old, but the issue of his age comes up only occasionally at his town meetings. That is why a query this morning at Pembroke Academy was striking. A woman asked whether McCain had the stamina to serve as president for eight years.
McCain responded by leaving open the possibility that, if he is elected, he might not seek re-election.
"If I said I was running for eight years, I'm not sure that would be a vote getter," McCain said shortly before leaving New Hampshire for Iowa.
While no candidate wants to suggest he is looking past the upcoming election, McCain's response fell into a different category because it suggested that a focus on his age might hurt him politically. If McCain wins, he would be the oldest person ever inaugurated as president.
McCain at times likes to joke about his age, saying, "I am older than dirt and have more scars than Frankenstein." Today, he reminded voters about his vigorous 95-year-old mother, which he said "shows how good my genes are."
"My health is good, my campaign schedule is heavier than anybody else's, and I’ve said many times I can out-campaign anybody," McCain said. "I think the decision as to whether to run for re-election has to do with the circumstances at the time. I really do. You shouldn't run for eight years. Because then you think you've got eight years to get these things done."
Asked in a press conference to elaborate on his comment about not running for eight years, McCain said that every president evaluates his progress after two or three years and that he would be no different.
McCain's performance on the campaign trail leaves no doubt that he remains a vigorous candidate. He often starts campaigning early in the morning, spends hours on his bus talking with reporters, and attends several town meetings, where he stands on his feet for an hour at each appearance.
McCain's relentless campaigning has paid off in New Hampshire, at least if the polls are an indication. He has surged from back in the pack. A new CNN/WMUR poll shows McCain tied with long-time front-runner Mitt Romney at 29 percent, with Rudy Giuliani in third with 12 percent, a week before the Jan. 8 primary.
McCain plans to fly later today to Iowa, where a Des Moines Register poll published Tuesday shows him in third place, behind Mike Huckabee and Romney. After the Iowa caucuses on Thursday, he plans to return to New Hampshire on Friday. Asked yesterday whether he has to win New Hampshire, McCain said that he needs to win the expectations game. He said that a second-place win could be perceived as a win if the media focuses on his comeback from last summer, when his campaign was declared dead by some analysts.
Why would any conservative want to vote for a guy who has McCain-Feingold, helping Ted Kennedy try to get amnesty for illegal immigrants, Gang of 14, Keating 5, and opposing Bush's tax cuts?!?
Because there are no good conservative candidates to choose from.
Only by breaking the iron triangle of big money, special interest lobbyists, and the legislation they buy, can sovereignty be restored to the American people.
Only John McCain can make this happen and maintain conservative principles!!!
Because there are no good conservative candidates to choose from.
I was a big supporter of McCain in 2000, but I can not bring myself to vote for a guy who has done so much against the interests of the GOP and its principles since then. Yes, I agree with his anti-pork stance. That is huge, and something worth supporting, but that does not erase voting against the Bush tax cuts, the Gang of 14, McCain-Feingold squashing free speech, McCain-Kennedy erasing the border. I will vote for McCain if he wins the nomination over anyone on the other side of the aisle, but not in the primary.
I was a big supporter of McCain in 2000, but I can not bring myself to vote for a guy who has done so much against the interests of the GOP and its principles since then. Yes, I agree with his anti-pork stance. That is huge, and something worth supporting, but that does not erase voting against the Bush tax cuts, the Gang of 14, McCain-Feingold squashing free speech, McCain-Kennedy erasing the border. I will vote for McCain if he wins the nomination over anyone on the other side of the aisle, but not in the primary.
Type your comment here...We agree with John McCain's stand on the Iraq war, but cannot vote for him because of his weak and unrealistic stand on illegal immigration. We are American Citizens living in the state of Arizona. Arizona is the State that John McCain represents and his stand is for illegal aliens rather than for the citizens of his own State who having to rely on the State of Arizona legislators of put into laws to protect our State from the invasion of these illegal people. They are destroying the economy of our State with educational, medical, free welfare benefits. They are destroying our neighborhoods with their Mexican signs and propoganda and are demonstrating in the Streets of Arizona for their rights. They are crying discrimmination against the United States citizens and have advocates (lawyers, representatives, companies) fighting for their cause. How sad it is this when the American Citizens have to borrow money to send their children to college, but illegal aliens get it frees. How said it is when American Citizens struggle financially to pay their health insurance and illegal aliens get it free, and because of this, hospitals are going broke. How said it is that the educational system of Arizona has a one billion dollar deficit because of paying to educate and teach them English to these illegal aliens and American Citizens pay for this out of their taxes. John McCain never addresses the problems that the American Citizens of Arizona are going through. They have to pass laws through the State government and never see or hear from John McCain. His only answer is, "People feel passionate about this issue." We can't believe that he was part of writing the IMMIGRATION BIll for amnesty that failed. He continues to deny that it was any way or form amnesty for these illegal aliens. There are not 10-12 million illegal aliens. There are 40 million illegal aliens. The police departments of Phoenix and Mesa have to face this issue everyday. NO HELP OR LOYALTY COMES FROM JOHN MCCAIN TO HELP ARIZONIANS. HE HAS FAILED THEM.
Please pass this onto the John McCain Campaign. We get emails from them asking for money and we have tries to reply to their emails, but they do not go through.
Sincerely, Ted and Ann Parks, 10801 E. Cloudview Avenue, Gold Canyon, Arizona
Type your comment here...We agree with John McCain's stand on the Iraq war, but cannot vote for him because of his weak and unrealistic stand on illegal immigration. We are American Citizens living in the state of Arizona. Arizona is the State that John McCain represents and his stand is for illegal aliens rather than for the citizens of his own State who having to rely on the State of Arizona legislators of put into laws to protect our State from the invasion of these illegal people. They are destroying the economy of our State with educational, medical, free welfare benefits. They are destroying our neighborhoods with their Mexican signs and propoganda and are demonstrating in the Streets of Arizona for their rights. They are crying discrimmination against the United States citizens and have advocates (lawyers, representatives, companies) fighting for their cause. How sad it is this when the American Citizens have to borrow money to send their children to college, but illegal aliens get it frees. How said it is when American Citizens struggle financially to pay their health insurance and illegal aliens get it free, and because of this, hospitals are going broke. How said it is that the educational system of Arizona has a one billion dollar deficit because of paying to educate and teach them English to these illegal aliens and American Citizens pay for this out of their taxes. John McCain never addresses the problems that the American Citizens of Arizona are going through. They have to pass laws through the State government and never see or hear from John McCain. His only answer is, "People feel passionate about this issue." We can't believe that he was part of writing the IMMIGRATION BIll for amnesty that failed. He continues to deny that it was any way or form amnesty for these illegal aliens. There are not 10-12 million illegal aliens. There are 40 million illegal aliens. The police departments of Phoenix and Mesa have to face this issue everyday. NO HELP OR LOYALTY COMES FROM JOHN MCCAIN TO HELP ARIZONIANS. HE HAS FAILED THEM.
Please pass this onto the John McCain Campaign. We get emails from them asking for money and we have tries to reply to their emails, but they do not go through.
Sincerely, Ted and Ann Parks, 10801 E. Cloudview Avenue, Gold Canyon, Arizona
Okay, I'm a Democrat, and not planning on crossing lines any time in 2008. I disagree with McCain about the war and many other fundamental issues and would never vote for him. But I think Republicans are making a big mistake by dismissing him over ideological issues. He's clearly the best your party has to offer in terms of experience, integrity and communication skills -- all qualities I'm sure even many of you will admit the current president lacks. In fact, I think the Bush administration has demonstrated that experience and administrative competence actually do matter, both for the president and his cabinet. (For that reason I would like to support Biden, though he'll probably be out of the race by the time my state gets to vote.)
The issue is not so much McCain's age but his health, which no one seems to want to broach. He has malignant melanoma, an extremely aggressive and deadly cancer. Very little is said about his medical condition, and unfortunately his odds of surviving a term in office are diminished by this.
I, too, was impressed with McCain when he ran in 2000. But in the past 7 years, he has taken too many positions that are not conservative. He was for amnesty before he was against it. He was against the Bush tax cuts before he was for them. He was for gay marriage before he was against it. He said he would never run disparaging ads against his competitors before he began bashing Romney in ads. I cannot support McCain. I've met Romney and I can tell he is the real deal. Mitt can unite the entire conservative coalition and that is our only hope for defeating the Dems in 2008. Mitt Romney is the best candidate for president.
I take issue with his vote on the illigals.
I don't believe in rewarding, breaking the law in any form,I cannot vote for John, I also remember South Carolina Bob Jones University. Some things you just don't forget.
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Mccain is a good presedent but should have run younger
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT JOHN MC CAINS HEALTH. IT APPEARS THAT HIS FACE IS SWELLING IN THE CHEEK AREA. HAS ANYONE CHECKED INTO HIS CANCER ISSUE TO SEE IF HE HAS A NEW PROBLEM?
regarding McCain's health - a man who's had cancer will be extra vigilant about any signs of a repeat. However, we keep seeing his very spritely 96 year old mom without hearing that his father, the admiral, died at age 70 (born 1911, died 1981). If there were cardiovascular issues then McCain is also at risk.
McCain isn't that old, Joe Biden is mabye 1 or 2 years younger. I think the president should be older than the vice president because the vice pres. should be learning under the pres. Joe Biden once said, "Watch, We're Gonna Have An International Crisis, A Generated Crisis, To Test The Mettle Of This Guy" dont you think that is concerning if his running mate thinks hes unexperienced???
im only 12, but i know my facts, so dont say hes gonna die in office or any thing like that, its the same probability that Joe Biden will die or that Obama will be killed.
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