McCain Says He's Just Fighting Back
KALAMAZOO, MICH. -- John McCain said today he will respond forcefully to attack ads against him. He was asked by reporters about a mailer shipped out in South Carolina which accuses Mitt Romney of supporting state-funded abortions. McCain says it was sent in response to months of attack mailers sent to voters from the Romney campaign.
"There's a stack of mailers this high attacking me, literally this high that have flooded South Carolina for the last six months," McCain explained..
"Governor Romney has spent millions and millions of dollars in attack ads against me, television, mailers, etc. So we will respond. Now, we won't go tit for tat, but we will respond."
McCain said he's responding forcefully because "these charges have to be responded to" and to make it clear that this kind of negative campaigning from Romney won't work, "It didn't work in New Hampshire when he spent millions attacking me and I don't think it's going to work here in Michigan where he's spent millions attacking me and it won't work in South Carolina."
McCain insists he is not stooping to negativity but responding and comparing records with Romney.
"Our message is still a positive one, vision for the future, and how we're going to help America. I think it is not negative campaigning, I think it's what his record is, particularly since he has changed his positions on many issues."