McCain Reacts to Giuliani Jabs

From CBS News' Dante Higgins:

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- John McCain joked with reporters today when he was asked about actor Chuck Norris’ recent comments about his age. Norris, a Mike Huckabee supporter, suggested that McCain was too old to be president and wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure after his first term.

McCain sighed heavily after a reporter asked the question, then said, “I’m afraid that I may have to send my 95-year-old mother over and wash Chuck’s mouth out with soap.”

McCain and his camp also responded to a recent swipe by Rudy Giuliani who said that McCain is not fiscally conservative.

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers reacted saying in a written statement: “John McCain has a long record of fighting for tax cuts and controlling spending. In contrast, Rudy Giuliani has a record of opposing tax relief. He actually endorsed liberal Democrat Mario Cuomo for governor because he opposed George Pataki’s tax cut plans, which Giuliani said at the time were too large. He also left Mayor Bloomberg with a fiscal mess, including a budget deficit of over $2 billion. That’s not fiscal responsibility.”

McCain added, “My record speaks for itself... Every conservative economic organization has given me the highest marks because of being an economic conservative."

“All I can say is I respect Mayor Giuliani. We’ve won primaries, one of the reporters was mentioning, we are now running 10 – 15 points ahead of him in his home state. So I understand. I understand politics.”