McCain Makes Final Iowa Push

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: John McCain

(AP)

URBANDALE, IA – John McCain was running late, but the Iowans who had assembled at the Arizona senator's campaign headquarters here last night seemed happy with the warm up act: A media scrum including Tim Russert, George Stephanopoulos, Tucker Carlson, and Brian Williams, many of whom signed autographs in the cramped, hot room until McCain arrived.

"The last McCain event I came to there were 25 people," a reporter said as he was being jostled to make room for more people, more media, more cameras. The too-small space suggested a last minute decision to come to Iowa from New Hampshire, one that might be explained by the fact that McCain is now sitting at a surprising (though distant) third in many Iowa polls.

When McCain did finally arrive, he was introduced by Senators Sam Brownback, John Thune and Lindsey Graham, the last of whom, this reporter noted for the first time, bears something of a resemblance to comedian Ricky Gervais. (The impression was only enhanced by Graham's occasional eye rolling and joke telling: Standing in the sweltering room, he quipped that he might have changed his position on global warming.) Brownback, meanwhile, told the crowd that McCain would appoint "strict constructionist" judges to the bench.

McCain himself, clad in a brown leather jacket, was relatively upbeat while making what amounted to a standard stump speech. He took out a pen and promised to veto pork-barrel bills. He talked about "the transcendent challenge" of "radical Islamic extremism." He said the surge in Iraq is succeeding and discussed how he stood by the strategy even as his campaign was being declared dead.

On McCain's way out, Nichole McDowell, who had come to the event with her infant son Wesley, asked the senator for a picture. McDowell's husband Zac is an army sergeant whom, she said, McCain had met in Iraq. McCain, she said, had her vote.

"The man is amazing," said McDowell, cradling her son in her arms. "He is the only man who has made an effort to see our troops and see this thing through."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by giantrobot2 January 4, 2008 3:17 AM EST: Congratulations Mike!

Mike Huckabee made political history today. Being outspent 20 to 1 and with every news organization in the world twisting the truth about him they couldnt fool the American people.

Mike Huckabee is a great role model for society. He has so much integrity, honesty, humbleness, charisma and good sense of humor.

Mike Huckabee is taking American to higher ground with a new American spirit. One that stops the squabbling and bickering from left to right to one that leads the country up.

This truly was the David and Goliath story. Mike Huckabee took out his sling shot with a small stone in it and knocked down the giant Romeny. Crash!!! You can hear the earth shake with the aftershocks of the giant falling.; Reply to this comment


by apolloknowsa January 3, 2008 8:46 PM EST: I did miss something...your endorsement of Mitt Romney on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA7JTDjG-Po; Reply to this comment


by apolloknowsa January 3, 2008 8:31 PM EST: Sorry, John, but I have to point out the obvious.

Beyond your gold-digging to get your second wife (just like your good friend, John Kerry), you were for Amnesty for illegal immigrants just like Ted Kennedy.

Your attack on the first amendment was championed by liberals (McCain/Feingold) and you voted against the Bush Tax cuts.

Did I miss anything?

The presidency is a young man''s game. Being in office aged both Bush and Clinton, and they were young when they started. Look how old they became. John would be 80 (EIGHTY!!) when he left office.

These are things that I can''t ignore. When I evaluate a president, I need to know that his temper will not explode and that he will not jump rashly into things. You have an extreme temper like Hillary. In fact, it appears that you share many more traits with the most liberal members of the democrats than you do with us conservatives.

Thank you for your 25 years of working inside DC, which also places you firmly as as Washington Insider. You have forgotten what it is like out here.

Go to Scottsdale and play some golf. Retire.; Reply to this comment


by myviews1 January 3, 2008 7:04 PM EST: John McCain is just too old to lead the party in the General Election. The GOP needs someone who will be young enough to carry out a difficult 8 years without pushing 80. Reagan was not as old as McCain and was definitely in decline during his second term.; Reply to this comment


by gumbystretch January 3, 2008 5:16 PM EST: Nice to see McCain''s message catching on with voters. I believe (and have always believed) that he was the best candidate running, both for his leadership qualities and his integrity. I hope he does well tonight at the caucuses.; Reply to this comment