McCain "Straight Talk Express" Rolls Again

(AP)  John McCain fired up the "Straight Talk Express" bus from his first presidential campaign Thursday in hopes of getting his second bid for the presidency on course after an early slump.

"Deja vu all over again," the four-term Republican senator said as he embarked on a two-day bus tour of Iowa with his wife, Cindy.

"I'm very happy with where we are right now," McCain said of his campaign, dismissing national polls that show him trailing rival Rudy Giuliani. "We're fine."

Nevertheless, McCain was seeking momentum in Iowa, an early voting state that he bypassed seven years ago. He gets on another bus this weekend in New Hampshire, where he won the 2000 primary before ultimately losing the GOP nomination to George W. Bush.

McCain started this campaign as the perceived Republican front-runner, leading in the race for political talent, endorsements and proven fundraisers. He and Giuliani were virtually tied in most national polls last year, but the gap has widened the past few months to double digits.

Aboard his campaign bus, McCain shrugged off the polls and suggestions of a stalled effort.

CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi asked McCain if he can get elected even though he is telling 70 percent of voters that they are wrong in Iraq.

"Well that depends on what happens in Iraq, obviously," McCain said. "I think there are already some signs of success, and I don't want to overstate that."

He said he was confident that he could win over voters as he steps up campaigning, and likened this stage of the campaign to spring training, a warm-up for the regular season.

"This is the first time we've been on the bus, but we've been working at this for well over a year. We've been trying to lay the political and financial base," McCain said. "We haven't done a great job, but we've done a pretty good job in doing what's necessary to prepare."

Republicans who have backed McCain privately fret that the campaign is burning through money at an alarming rate by building an overly bureaucratic organization — in effect overcompensating for a campaign weakness from 2000. They express concern that McCain doesn't appear to be the "Happy Warrior" he was eight years ago and may be having difficulty making the transition from an underdog to an establishment candidate.

"My positions haven't changed," McCain said. "I'm too old to change. I'm the same. People will understand that as the campaign goes on."

He chatted with reporters nonstop inside the plush blue tour bus emblazoned with a "Straight Talk Express" logo and McCain's campaign Web site address. Inside were two couches, nine leather chairs and two booths, a kitchenette with a full-sized fridge and a half-dozen flat-screen TVs.

"This one's cleaner," Cindy McCain said, comparing it to 2000. Then, she noticed the TVs. "Oh my! Is this an upgrade or what! Too good for us."

McCain met privately with Iowa legislators at the statehouse before traveling to Ames for a question-and-answer session with potential caucus-goers, one of several he was holding around the state.

Though some wonder if McCain is too old to be president, it's too soon to count him out. Alfonsi notes that at this point in the 2000 campaign, McCain was trailing both Elizabeth Dole and Dan Quayle.

[gunnerv1]

forthepeaple: OK, you proved your point, you know how to "cut and paste". Keep it up and you'll be reported (Not By Me, I kind of like reading your BS)not that I would ever vote your way)) The biggest problem I see with your blogs are that they are WAY too long and wordy, you lose most peoples intrest real fast. Shorten it up AND QUIT REPEATING IT SO DAM* MANY TIMES!

[gunnerv1]

McCain is a "nut case" with a fireball temper! He spent way too long in the "Hanoi Hilton", too bad that "Hanoi Jane" wasn't with him, may she could have gave him a BJ every night to keep his nerves calm. LOL. I wouldn't vote for him even if he ran unopposed or even against "The BI*CH" Hillery.

[randalds]

Posted by forthepeaple at 07:30 PM : Mar 15, 2007

I actually agree with much of what you say, but not if you say the same thing over and over and over and over again. Please stop multiposting as that's a right wing troll trick.

[baldfrog-2009]

To ALL you Republican Bush Hit War Iraq Kissers being paid by Rove more than likely to publish his cockroach fecal matter on here. Yes being paid to go through the net, the press and publish articles in papers and the media you rotten pastie faced Rovian Young Turks.I am not buying it and trust me I know Roves tactics from the Committee to Reelect the President in 1972.He will stoop to anything. Ask perhaps John Dean and others of that era. I suspect that's you do is go through press articles,the net and call Rush Bimbas, call in show over and over again masturbating him with Republican accolades,yet another turk probably on the Republican payroll.
Hop on over to the recruiters office and Join UP Chicken Poop or if you're to scared check out Joe Bidon's comments on this Bush Hit War over on Keith Olbermann's then join up and go bleed for your beliefs.Otherwise get off the payroll and shut up.

[j0hnwi11iams]

If only he could get the cumstains off the back of his suit.

[forthepeaple]

HAVE BEEN TELLING ALL OF YOU TO GO AND READ THE FACTS TRUE FACTS ABOUT IRAQ AND IRAN..HOW MUCH LONGER TO I HAVE TO KEEP POSTING THE SAME THING UNTIL YOU ALL READ IT..go to www.scoop.co.nz go to search tab and put in PENTAGON WHISTLE-BLOWER IRAQ and read it..it is sad but true and until you americans wake up and smell the s/h/i/t/ that your government has been telling you for CENTURIES.....
americans need a real american to run this country so vote for david a belanger for president he is a real american and will only help america and americans. [e-mail]

[forthepeaple]

HAVE BEEN TELLING ALL OF YOU TO GO AND READ THE FACTS TRUE FACTS ABOUT IRAQ AND IRAN..HOW MUCH LONGER TO I HAVE TO KEEP POSTING THE SAME THING UNTIL YOU ALL READ IT..go to www.scoop.co.nz go to search tab and put in PENTAGON WHISTLE-BLOWER IRAQ and read it..it is sad but true and until you americans wake up and smell the s/h/i/t/ that your government has been telling you for CENTURIES.....
americans need a real american to run this country so vote for david a belanger for president he is a real american and will only help america and americans. [e-mail]

[forthepeaple]

HAVE BEEN TELLING ALL OF YOU TO GO AND READ THE FACTS TRUE FACTS ABOUT IRAQ AND IRAN..HOW MUCH LONGER TO I HAVE TO KEEP POSTING THE SAME THING UNTIL YOU ALL READ IT..go to www.scoop.co.nz go to search tab and put in PENTAGON WHISTLE-BLOWER IRAQ and read it..it is sad but true and until you americans wake up and smell the s/h/i/t/ that your government has been telling you for CENTURIES.....
americans need a real american to run this country so vote for david a belanger for president he is a real american and will only help america and americans. [e-mail]

[forthepeaple]

HAVE BEEN TELLING ALL OF YOU TO GO AND READ THE FACTS TRUE FACTS ABOUT IRAQ AND IRAN..HOW MUCH LONGER TO I HAVE TO KEEP POSTING THE SAME THING UNTIL YOU ALL READ IT..go to www.scoop.co.nz go to search tab and put in PENTAGON WHISTLE-BLOWER IRAQ and read it..it is sad but true and until you americans wake up and smell the s/h/i/t/ that your government has been telling you for CENTURIES.....
americans need a real american to run this country so vote for david a belanger for president he is a real american and will only help america and americans. [e-mail]

[forthepeaple]

hey toolmangler, how long did that take you to figure out.and i ask you again this question.. what have you done for my country.i served,i.m a vet.so what have you done???????