McCain Rallies For 'No Surrender'
By Josh Voorhees, Aiken Standard
September 18, 2007
Article Excerpt
Looking to rally support for an unpopular war, Sen. John McCain and his presidential campaign turned to a group of potential voters Monday that needed little convincing.
Making his first campaign stop of the final day of his week-long "No Surrender" tour, the GOP presidential hopeful held a morning rally for supporters and veterans at VFW Savannah River Post 5877.
"We have a strategy that is succeeding," he told the gathering of roughly 200, most with strong ties to the United States military, who showed for the morning's veterans appreciation breakfast and rally.
The former Navy pilot's three-state tour through the early primary proving grounds of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina launched early last week in an effort to build support for the war in Iraq before what will likely be a heated debate on the issue begins in Congress this week.
McCain called on supporters to help convince his colleagues in Washington that despite the war's current unpopularity, the U.S. soldiers must be given a chance to win.
"A date for withdrawal ... is a date for surrender," he said.
While his week-long tour has placed McCain back in the national spotlight - something his campaign had struggled to accomplish since financial difficulties and a mass exodus of campaign staff caused problems earlier this year - his campaign appeared to be making an effort to keep most of the focus at the event on the war and not McCain's bid to succeed George W. Bush as president.
The dark blue stickers worn by campaign staff and handed out to supporters boasted simply the words "No Surrender," with the senator's name noticeably absent.
Friday, September 21, 2007
At Tour's End, McCain Is On The Rise
At Tour's End, McCain Is On The Rise
By Dan Nowicki , The Arizona Republic
September 18, 2007
Article Excerpt
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Sen. John McCain implored veterans and cadets at one of America's most famous military colleges to oppose any premature troop withdrawal from Iraq, concluding a weeklong "No Surrender" tour that could fuel his resurgence in the presidential race.
McCain, R-Ariz., timed the series of rallies in key primary states to coincide with Capitol Hill's Iraq war debate, which is expected to start this week.
"We are trying to say to the American people, 'We understand your sorrow, we understand your frustration,' " McCain told approximately 1,000 people gathered at the Citadel. "We know that, for a long time, this war was mismanaged, and we know that an enormous sacrifice has already been made. ...
"But we know also that the region will deteriorate into chaos and genocide if we leave."
McCain delivered the same message last week at stops across Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. ...
McCain still trails GOP front-runners Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson, but a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll reflected a gain of 9 percentage points for McCain from last month.
Other polls also indicate that McCain's standing has improved. A CBS News/New York Times survey had him up 6 points while a USA Today/Gallup poll said he had risen 4 percentage points. ...
Playing to his strengths
McCain's No Surrender tour returns the spotlight to a debate in which he is solidly aligned with conservatives: the Iraq war and the battle against terrorism.
"In places like South Carolina, it's going to put the war upfront again and keep the immigration issue off the front pages," said Kyle Longley, an Arizona State University expert on Southern politics and foreign policy who taught at the Citadel.
"I think that plays to his advantage. Plus, I think he's getting a bump because he's gone back to being the insurrectionist, the outsider or person who is going to stir things up." ...
During the rally, former President George H.W. Bush echoed McCain's determination through a videotaped message. "The bottom line is we must persevere," said Bush, the father of President Bush. "We must not surrender. We must not quit and run away. God bless our troops and everyone involved in the No Surrender rally."
Uniformed cadets mixed with other military veterans and McCain fans in the packed Citadel ballroom. Several carried hand-written signs reading, "It's not politics ... it's patriotism." ...
"We all really do respect his military service," said Scott Barlow, a 19-year-old Citadel sophomore from Georgia who has yet to choose a candidate in next year's presidential election, the first in which he is eligible to vote.
McCain is known as one of the earliest and strongest supporters of President Bush's ongoing surge strategy, but McCain also repeatedly points out from the stump that for years he relentlessly criticized the way the White House conducted the war.
For years, he called for additional troops. He often denounces former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as one of the worst ever in the post.
Despite past mistakes, McCain maintains that the United States cannot abandon the Iraq mission or even set a specific date for withdrawal without buoying the spirits of terrorists and encouraging Iran's regional ambitions.
"I agree with Senator McCain," said Charles Furtado, 47, a 1982 Citadel graduate from Beaufort, S.C., and retired Marine who served in the Gulf War and in Iraq. "It's ugly. People are frustrated, but we've got to finish it. We started it, and we've got to see this thing through." ...
Please click here to read the entire article.
By Dan Nowicki , The Arizona Republic
September 18, 2007
Article Excerpt
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Sen. John McCain implored veterans and cadets at one of America's most famous military colleges to oppose any premature troop withdrawal from Iraq, concluding a weeklong "No Surrender" tour that could fuel his resurgence in the presidential race.
McCain, R-Ariz., timed the series of rallies in key primary states to coincide with Capitol Hill's Iraq war debate, which is expected to start this week.
"We are trying to say to the American people, 'We understand your sorrow, we understand your frustration,' " McCain told approximately 1,000 people gathered at the Citadel. "We know that, for a long time, this war was mismanaged, and we know that an enormous sacrifice has already been made. ...
"But we know also that the region will deteriorate into chaos and genocide if we leave."
McCain delivered the same message last week at stops across Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. ...
McCain still trails GOP front-runners Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson, but a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll reflected a gain of 9 percentage points for McCain from last month.
Other polls also indicate that McCain's standing has improved. A CBS News/New York Times survey had him up 6 points while a USA Today/Gallup poll said he had risen 4 percentage points. ...
Playing to his strengths
McCain's No Surrender tour returns the spotlight to a debate in which he is solidly aligned with conservatives: the Iraq war and the battle against terrorism.
"In places like South Carolina, it's going to put the war upfront again and keep the immigration issue off the front pages," said Kyle Longley, an Arizona State University expert on Southern politics and foreign policy who taught at the Citadel.
"I think that plays to his advantage. Plus, I think he's getting a bump because he's gone back to being the insurrectionist, the outsider or person who is going to stir things up." ...
During the rally, former President George H.W. Bush echoed McCain's determination through a videotaped message. "The bottom line is we must persevere," said Bush, the father of President Bush. "We must not surrender. We must not quit and run away. God bless our troops and everyone involved in the No Surrender rally."
Uniformed cadets mixed with other military veterans and McCain fans in the packed Citadel ballroom. Several carried hand-written signs reading, "It's not politics ... it's patriotism." ...
"We all really do respect his military service," said Scott Barlow, a 19-year-old Citadel sophomore from Georgia who has yet to choose a candidate in next year's presidential election, the first in which he is eligible to vote.
McCain is known as one of the earliest and strongest supporters of President Bush's ongoing surge strategy, but McCain also repeatedly points out from the stump that for years he relentlessly criticized the way the White House conducted the war.
For years, he called for additional troops. He often denounces former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as one of the worst ever in the post.
Despite past mistakes, McCain maintains that the United States cannot abandon the Iraq mission or even set a specific date for withdrawal without buoying the spirits of terrorists and encouraging Iran's regional ambitions.
"I agree with Senator McCain," said Charles Furtado, 47, a 1982 Citadel graduate from Beaufort, S.C., and retired Marine who served in the Gulf War and in Iraq. "It's ugly. People are frustrated, but we've got to finish it. We started it, and we've got to see this thing through." ...
Please click here to read the entire article.
McCain Gets Credit For Consistency
McCain Gets Credit For Consistency
The Orangeburg Times And Democrat
September 20, 2007
ISSUE: John McCain's campaign
OUR VIEW: Senator consistent in message about war
U.S. Sen John McCain went from presumptive nominee to sagging candidate. Now the Arizona senator's GOP presidential campaign is showing signs of life. ...
McCain is focusing on key early states in the primary process, making South Carolina a popular stop. Importantly, he here has the support of a majority of the GOP establishment.
More important, however, is the McCain message. Saying he favors exiting Iraq at the earliest feasible time, the senator has been steadfast in stating a pullout at this point would lead to chaos in Iraq and destabilization of the region. It would amount to a major American defeat. ...
In the war's first years, McCain was a consistent administration critic. He echoes that today, saying the Bush team badly mismanaged the war. He says that as much as anything is why Americans have become disillusioned with the battle.
McCain concluded the tour at The Citadel Monday night by imploring veterans, cadets and a wide demographic range of supporters to oppose any plan for a premature troop withdrawal from Iraq. ...
Give McCain credit for consistency. He has not shied away from supporting the war even when his popularity numbers were plummeting. His campaign may never regain the stature accorded it by prognosticators when the '08 presidential politicking began, but McCain is not surrendering. If the Iraq situation can be improved in the coming months, or at the very minimum does not deteriorate, McCain might well be back in the ball game.
The Orangeburg Times And Democrat
September 20, 2007
ISSUE: John McCain's campaign
OUR VIEW: Senator consistent in message about war
U.S. Sen John McCain went from presumptive nominee to sagging candidate. Now the Arizona senator's GOP presidential campaign is showing signs of life. ...
McCain is focusing on key early states in the primary process, making South Carolina a popular stop. Importantly, he here has the support of a majority of the GOP establishment.
More important, however, is the McCain message. Saying he favors exiting Iraq at the earliest feasible time, the senator has been steadfast in stating a pullout at this point would lead to chaos in Iraq and destabilization of the region. It would amount to a major American defeat. ...
In the war's first years, McCain was a consistent administration critic. He echoes that today, saying the Bush team badly mismanaged the war. He says that as much as anything is why Americans have become disillusioned with the battle.
McCain concluded the tour at The Citadel Monday night by imploring veterans, cadets and a wide demographic range of supporters to oppose any plan for a premature troop withdrawal from Iraq. ...
Give McCain credit for consistency. He has not shied away from supporting the war even when his popularity numbers were plummeting. His campaign may never regain the stature accorded it by prognosticators when the '08 presidential politicking began, but McCain is not surrendering. If the Iraq situation can be improved in the coming months, or at the very minimum does not deteriorate, McCain might well be back in the ball game.
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