McCain Looks Ahead

60 Minutes' Scott Pelley Interviews The Presumptive GOP Presidential Candidate

(CBS)  It is an immutable law of American politics that the candidate with the most money wins the nomination. But Tuesday that ended when John McCain, nearly broke at one point, became, in effect, the Republican nominee. The life of John McCain is the story of one near-death experience after another, both literally and in terms of his career. How appropriate that he hails from a town called Phoenix.

Tuesday night in Dallas marked a historic comeback for a campaign that had been considered dead, finished. McCain claimed the nomination at the end of an exhausting and emotional day.

60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley met the senator and his wife, Cindy, after his speech.

"About four months ago, the polls showed you coming in fourth in New Hampshire. You were down to your last $50,000. Your opponents were out-spending you massively and tonight you're the party's nominee. What is it about you that got you here?" Pelley asked.

"I think it shows that in America anything is possible. I think hard work, I think telling people the truth. But tonight I'm obviously very happy and very humbled by having had the ability to get this nomination," McCain said.

"As of about an hour ago you became the leader of the Republican Party, a party that you have sometimes been at odds with," Pelley remarked.

"From time to time," McCain agreed.

Asked where he's going to lead the party, the senator told Pelley, "We have to re-energize the party, we have to expand the base, we have to appeal to the independents and we have to go out and get those Reagan Democrats and there's a whole new generation of them. We got our work cut out for us."

The next day he accepted an endorsement that cuts both ways: President Bush is popular with conservatives, but, overall, he has the lowest approval ratings since Nixon and Carter.

"The United States is going to be in Iraq for years to come. Afghanistan is not going well. Osama bin Laden is at large. And the economy is slipping into recession. How do you make a case for a third Republican term?" Pelley asked McCain.

"I can make a case that less government, lower taxes, less regulation, safer America is what I can give America. But I don't underestimate the size of the challenge," McCain replied.

"Senator Obama calls you a genuine American hero who represents the politics of yesterday," Pelley remarked.

"Yeah, that's a pretty good line, I think. And I understand that. And my response, of course, is that I have the experience and the knowledge and the background to make the judgments that are necessary to move this nation forward and make it safe," McCain said.

"You're saying that Senator Obama doesn't have the experience? That he's too naïve to be president?" Pelley asked.

"No, I am saying that I have that. And if the phone rings at 3:00a.m., I think the American people would want me to answer it first," McCain replied.

But no one had expected him to be around to take that call. Moderates didn't like McCain's support for the surge in Iraq; conservatives didn't like his plan for citizenship for illegal immigrants. Contributions dried up. Before New Hampshire, he burned through a $3 million loan he had secured with a life insurance policy.

Asked if that was the darkest moment, McCain told Pelley, "There were so many. It's hard to pick one out."

[kailumego1]

If I didn''''t know the consensus of white America, I learned it last night, when an elderly white female, in my African History class, politely, in a firm but soft spoken voice reminded me, she said this country will never see a black president, and it mattered little of his/her qualifications, because the largest voter constituency, which happens to be those 45-above will never vote a black into office.

She went on to say Obama''''s winning in the primaries says nothing, when the actual vote to elect a president comes into play, of which a majority of whites will "NEVER" cast that vote for him.

Obama has a strong following among 18-35 year whites, but his support sharply declines among the 45 plus generation, they''''re the one''''s which make up the majority of the vote, accordingly.

A fellow student, a white male, second that emotion, or sentiment, as he stated this is the consensus of white Americans, and although it appears Obama has the Democratic lead, McCain is a "shoe-win".

So, if this is any indication of the "collective consciousnesses" of white America, Obama, according to Bill Clinton, is living in a "fairytale", because white Americans will "never" elect him.

Maybe that''''s why Hilary has fought a relentless campaign against him, because she''''s only echoing the sentiments of white America.

[jbkaufmann]

Mr. McCain''s chances are directly proportional to the demos'' odds of *** up their own possibilities. At least Mr. Spitzer is NOT a serial rapist. Frankly, I believe Juanita Broderick and the Arkansas beauty queen who spoke of her ordeal in the back of that limo, not to mention Kathleen Willey. Why doesn''t the media describe the various types of women and familial enablers who find it in their own interests to let these guys keep offending. Anybody remember Harry Reasoner''s 60M segment about the high school girl killed by the new hire janitor who confessed to his lady-friend: "Today I killed a girl at achool!"(?) But she didn''t reveal the confession until yrs later when "enabling" was not part of her gig. Spitzer is a far cry from the kinds of offenses we all know so much about. So that''s why we can''t count McCain out, just yet.

[fettkonserv]

Looking ahead for Alzheimer''s Treatment.

[jesus_rose4u]

McCain Looks Ahead, Yes, through Christ coming into your life a relationship is established between you and God! This way McCain can look ahead!

[conviction_]

McCain Looks Ahead? Would self be conquered?

[self_vs_god]

McCain Looks Ahead
If He is elected President I hope he really asks God for direction in His life for the lives of Americans? This would be looking ahead! God can do this personally for him or anyone in fact if they acknowledge their self to God. And then ask Jesus into their lives to have victory over self.

[fwbromberg]

I cannot decide which is more appalling: Is it Senator McCain%u2019s hypocrisy at claiming that water-boarding is torture after his vote on February 13 to continue to allow so-called %u201Cenhanced interrogation techniques%u201D (a euphemism for torture) to be used by the CIA? Or is it Scott Pelley%u2019s lack of journalistic integrity or his lack of knowledge that allowed for a discussion of this issue without even a mention of McCain%u2019s February 13 vote? Torture is immoral and leads to false statements and confessions. Its use damages our credibility around the world, puts our servicemen and women in jeopardy, and is in direct contrast to the values and ideals of our democracy.

NOT IN MY NAME!
Fran Bromberg

[jgug1]

THIS is journalism? I think not. Mr. Pelley comes accross as an Apparatchik of Senator McCain. Mr. Pelley doesn''t trouble himself to ask St. McCain why he voted against a bill that would have made torture illegal last month. Then, McCain asserts that America is a "right of center nation," and Pelley doesn''t trouble himself to question that, either. Never mind that a Pew Poll in February showed Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans in EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY except one. How much does McCain pay you for that, Mr. Pelley?

[j-whitman]

user168,,,, Maybe you should think about changing your screen name to abuser168 or start listing to the obvious falseness in McCain''s speeches.... Then think about the GOP''s false Contract For America

[nolalou]

"The Clintons will steal the Nomination away from Obamma thru secret Delegates ..." Posted by hillaryin08

They are not ''secret delegates'', their names are known, many are party activists or elected officials. The Clinton''s didn''t sneak them in the back door, they have had so called ''super delegates'' since the 1960''s! The purpose was to have some elected delegates pledged to vote as their states voted, and about 20 percent who are allowed to vote their conscience. The republican party has something similar, except they call them ''unpledged delegates'' instead of ''super delegates''. It is Obama trying to change the rules, saying Super Delegates should be obligated to vote for whoever has the most votes or elected delegates, when party rules clearly state that is not the case! Besides, if Obama has his way, would Senator Kennedy, who endorsed Obama, be forced to vote for Hillary at the convention, since she won the Massachusetts Primary?

[user168-2009]

Hillary thinks if your hopes are not for her to win, then they are "false hopes". She is telling the people Obama''s hope to unite the country is "false hope".

[j-whitman]

hillaryin08,,,, This article is about McCain''s Magic Mushroom Visions --
--- Baghdad''s far from secure, Iraq''s far from saying there is any degree of real progress, our national security is damaged severly, no real progress has been made in this War on Terror, & & our economy is far from what McCain says.

[j-whitman]

hillaryin08,,,, I''m waiting to see how it plays out, but I don''t see it hurting a democrat landslide in November. --- Try not spinning it into something it''s not

[j-whitman]

hillaryin08,,,, Oh, your talking about Michigan & Florida.... I''ll agree that''s become a clustref_ck.

[hillaryin08]

The Democrat Party Bosses are now saying now that the elected delegates dont count, and the Super Delagates do. God I''m glad that im not in that party.

[j-whitman]

hillaryin08,,,, What part of it is stealing ??

[hillaryin08]

Your folks with your constant war against American Liberals --- McCain is & always has been a Conservative Liberal


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Posted by j-whitman at 02:33 PM : Mar 10, 2008

So what does this have to do with a fellow Democrat stealing and election away from another? And you with the rest of the libs giving them a pass on it?

[j-whitman]

hillaryin08,,,, Hypocracy ??? No, this is hyprocracy :

Your folks with your constant war against American Liberals --- McCain is & always has been a Conservative Liberal

[hillaryin08]

Obamma is leading in Elected Pledged Delegates

Obamma is leading in the Popular Vote

Obamma has won the most States

The Clintons will steal the Nomination away from Obamma thru secret Delegates and the Libs will give them a pass and not show an inch of outrage over it.

[hillaryin08]

hillaryin08,,,, I believe here on this planet we call it the election process not stealing,, You know, something totally alien to the GOP, democracy


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Posted by j-whitman at 02:27 PM : Mar 10, 2008

No, but you and the rest of the Libs will not show an inch of outrage when the Clintons steal the election from Obamma. Its called Hypocracy.