One term only for McCain?

The speculation, idle or otherwise, that Republican John McCain would be a one-term president was fueled over the weekend by his campaign manager's rather coy response.

The theory goes that since McCain, if elected in November, would be, at 72, the oldest person ever sworn into a first term, it might reassure voters if he pledged to not seek re-election. Also, not seeking a second term could free McCain to make less partisan decisions -- to put "country first" as his campaign banner says. And McCain could then promote his running mate as his apprentice and heir apparent. But the problem is that such a promise would make McCain a lame duck the second he sat down at the desk in the Oval Office.

On "Fox News Sunday," host Chris Wallace asked, "Is there any chance that Senator McCain will pledge to serve only one term as president and that there will be no politics in the White House?

Rick Davis, McCain's campaign manager, replied, "Well, first of all, if you know John McCain, you know there's not going to be much politics in the White House anyway. I mean, he doesn't grade any of his decisions either as a senator or in the future as president on what the political dynamic is. You look at his history, whether it's campaign finance reform, or opposing this administration on detainee abuse and things like that, he does what he thinks is right for the country, and he's going to do that throughout his career no matter what office he holds.

Wallace pressed on: "But is there any possibility, because I didn't get an answer there -- is there any thought -- is there any possibility that he would consider issuing a pledge, say, at the Republican convention, 'I will serve one term as president?' "

Davis replied: "Chris, you're going to have to come to the Republican convention to find out what's going to happen there. And I think everybody should tune in, because it's going to be an excellent event and very interesting to all viewers.

Wallace: "You're not ruling it out."

Davis: "I'm not talking about it at all."

The issue came up before the New Hampshire primary in January, when McCain was asked about it during a town hall meeting. As the Globe reported then:

"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.

Asked in a press conference to elaborate, McCain said that every president evaluates his progress after two or three years and that he would be no different."