McCain: I Stand in Obama's Way Every Day

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Congress

(AP Photo/Karin Cooper, CBS News)

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is up with his first ads for his 2010 Senate reelection campaign, and they portray the 2008 Republican presidential nominee as a crucial impediment to President Obama's "extreme left-wing crusade to bankrupt America."

"I stand in his way every day," McCain says in one of the ads. "If I get a bruise or two knocking some sense into heads in Washington, so be it."

The other spot features an announcer saying "John McCain is leading the fight against President Obama every day" and casting McCain as "Arizona's last line of defense."

"My lot in life has been to wage war against wrong, like today's massive spending at the worst possible time," McCain says in that ad. "Send me back to the Senate. We'll win that fight for Arizona."

You can listen to both spots on McCain's campaign Web site, where he is seeking campaign contributions.

McCain faces a possible challenge from the right from former Rep. J. D. Hayworth, who has opposed McCain's immigration reform efforts. Hayworth, who currently hosts a conservative radio talk show, is considering entering the race but has not done so.

In a sign that the McCain campaign is taking Heyworth seriously, they reportedly bought advertizing time on the radio station where Heyworth's show is heard, according to Hotline On Call.

In one of the ads, McCain's past as a prisoner of war is evoked, with an announcer saying "we know what he has endured."

"Turned down the chance to go home early," the announcer says. "It was against the prisoner's code. John McCain has spent his life representing Arizona. Fighting for the little guy. Standing up to titans. Afraid of no man."

The other ad opens with the announcer saying McCain has "lived through a battle or two" and "vanquished many a foe," before adding that "perhaps no battle in our lifetime is more vital than the one John McCain fights now: A battle to save America."

The announcer also attacks "ridiculously unaffordable ideas like government run health care."

Arizona's Republican primary takes place on August 24th.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by stevemehere January 9, 2010 12:19 AM EST: Every time I hear a Republican speak I ask myself, "what is the RNC platform?" It seems they have no solutions to the problems facing Americans, except tearing Obama down. Lets see, will tearing down obama fix health care (lets hear real solutions RNC), will tearing down obama bring jobs (what is your solution, RNC), will tearing down obama take care of a run away financial market that uses our retirement funds as their personal gambling money (do you have a solution RNC other than constant whining). Listening to a bunch of RNC babies whining instead of offering real solutions does not give me much confidence that they will govern any better than the democrats will. For that matter, it seems the Republicans want to bring back the Bush policies - give tax breaks to the wealthy, un-regulate corporate america/banks/financial institutes that collapsed our economy, and use lobbyists talking points to govern our way of life. God, we really don't have much of of a choice, do we. But the worse of the two evils at the moment are the Democrats, but the U.S. government as a whole is reason why middle class america is fading away and instead catering to the rich and their own self-serving greed.; Reply to this comment


by stevemehere January 9, 2010 12:18 AM EST: Every time I hear a Republican speak I ask myself, "what is the RNC platform?" It seems they have no solutions to the problems facing Americans, except tearing Obama down. Lets see, will tearing down obama fix health care (lets hear real solutions RNC), will tearing down obama bring jobs (what is your solution, RNC), will tearing down obama take care of a run away financial market that uses our retirement funds as their personal gambling money (do you have a solution RNC other than constant whining). Listening to a bunch of RNC babies whining instead of offering real solutions does not give me much confidence that they will govern any better than the democrats will. For that matter, it seems the Republicans want to bring back the Bush policies - give tax breaks to the wealthy, un-regulate corporate america/banks/financial institutes that collapsed our economy, and use lobbyists talking points to govern our way of life. God, we really don't have much of of a choice, do we. But the worse of the two evils at the moment are the Democrats, but the U.S. government as a whole is reason why middle class america is fading away and instead catering to the rich and their own self-serving greed.; Reply to this comment


by ruhappynow January 8, 2010 12:22 PM EST: McCain stands in President Obama's way exactly like he did during the presidential debate by walking in circles around the stage. I think he just looks at little senile and confused.; Reply to this comment


by d02587874 January 8, 2010 11:09 AM EST: What happened to "serving the President"?; Reply to this comment


by jeff-fla January 8, 2010 6:39 AM EST: Why now, why didn't you stand in Bush's way when he spent America into the poor hour?; Reply to this comment


by demsts January 8, 2010 6:12 AM EST: The man can find NO RELEVANCE other than standing in Obama's way. SAD.; Reply to this comment


by Mach1Pony January 8, 2010 5:58 AM EST: As long as Americans are anti-government, they will continue to lag behind the rest of the world in just about everything.; Reply to this comment


by pensacola8-2009 January 8, 2010 5:54 AM EST: I believe that John McCain is hoping for some of Winston Churchill's luck when Churchill was opposing Chamberlain's policies to appease Hitler. The trouble is that John McCain is no Churchill, and President Obama is not trying to appease AlQuieda.; Reply to this comment


by longtree-2009 January 8, 2010 5:17 AM EST: mccain had his chance but he blew it when he selected palin as his running mate. his self-proclaimed "maverick" ways and decision to select palin cost him votes from all citizens, yes including republicans, that opted for obama rather than run the danger of palin as potus should mccain die in office. retire mccain, go away. go away and take jimmy carter with you. if you decide to stand, then have the sense to separate from palin once and for all.; Reply to this comment


by myopinionpal January 8, 2010 5:02 AM EST: Is this the best Arizona can come up with the problem in Washington is that 5 and 6 term congressmen are hurting this country and that younger minds and new ideas are needed. Our lawmakers are selfserving old men just look at Sen.Byrd in his 90's this should not be. I don't know how thease people keep getting re-elected and they don't really do nothing but bleed the american taxpayer dry.; Reply to this comment