McCain: "It Took Us A While..."
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- John McCain won the South Carolina primary tonight with 33 percent of the vote, just 3 percentage points above Gov. Mike Huckabee. Entering to the theme from "Rocky", he took to the stage and addressed supporters at the Citadel in Charleston.
"Thank you, South Carolina, for bringing us across the finish line first in the first in the South primary. It took us a while, but what's eight years among friends," he told the room of McCainiacs who waited for hours - and some who waited since his 2000 campaign - to hear his victory speech.
"I seek the nomination of our Party, because I am as confident today as I was when I first entered public life as a foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution that the principles of the Republican Party -- our confidence in the good sense and resourcefulness of free people -- are always in America's best interests. In war and peace, in good times and challenging ones, we have always known that the first responsibility of government it to keep this country safe from its enemies," he said.
McCain thanked all in South Carolina who assisted in his victory tonight from politicians, staffers and volunteers. When he thanked his 95-year-old mother Roberta McCain, the audience cheered and McCain paused to walk back to her and give her a kiss before continuing on. "It is obvious to me, and to all who know me, that we would not be where we are tonight, but for your love, encouragement and faith in me," he said.
"As pleased as we are that we have a reason to celebrate tonight, I know that I must keep foremost in my mind that I am not running for President to be somebody, but to do something. I am running to keep America safe, prosperous and proud. I am running to restore the trust of the American people in their government. I am running so that our children and their children will have even greater opportunities than the ones we were blessed with. I am running so that every person in this country, now and in generations to come, will know the same, sublime honor that has been the treasure of my life: to be proud to be an American," McCain said.
He left the stage to the sounds of ABBA's "Take A Chance On Me."