McCain Discusses Bush Candidacy
In an interview with CBS News Anchor Dan Rather for Tuesday's 60 Minutes II , John McCain says he sees no circumstances under which he would not support Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush.
"I think we'll have discussions and I think there's no doubt that I would support the nominee of the party," McCain said. "Exactly how that happens and under what circumstances, and my degree of enthusiasm, obviously, are questions that are yet to be resolved."
McCain also repeated that he had no interest in the No. 2 spot on the Republican presidential ticket.
"I think I can serve the country far better in the United States Senate. The vice president of the United States would be a great honor, obviously, but I think I have to assess where I can best serve the country ... and I think that's in the United States Senate," he said.
McCain had these words for his supporters: "I will never forget the obligation and contract that I entered into with them. And that is to pursue this reform agenda. And that will be my highest priority."
McCain made the remarks Monday as he returned to the Senate for the first time since ending his run for the presidency. He grinned broadly and bantered with the reporters who mobbed him outside his Senate office, but said he did not expect the cold shoulder Tuesday from GOP colleagues, most of whom support Bush for the Republican presidential nomination.
“I'm looking forward to having lunch with all my friends,” he said, referring to the GOP luncheon on Tuesdays when the Senate is in session. “I'm told that I will be extended a very warm welcome.”
The greeting from Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, a Bush supporter who has clashed with McCain on campaign finance reform and other issues, was cooler.
Lott said he was glad McCain was back but, “we're not going to have a parade or anything like that.”
Whatever the feelings of his Senate colleagues, McCain is now more of a political force to be reckoned with, having pressed Bush hard for the presidential nomination while helping to draw record numbers of Republican voters to primaries in more than a dozen states.
McCain said he would campaign for members of Congress who support his ideas and, with that in mind, his camp held preliminary discussions Monday with Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, which raises money for House GOP candidates.
McCain said he would not mind if the candidates were longtime Bush supporters.
“If that was a criteria I wouldn't be doing much campaigning,” he said with a chuckle. One such Bush supporter that McCain said he would campaign for is New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who is running for a Senate seat against first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.
McCain also signed off on the “Straight Talk Express” PAC, which he is expeced to use to raise money for a speaking tour to promote the campaign finance issue, to travel to campaign stops for other candidates and for political activities at the national GOP convention in August.
| Never Say Never Although McCain has said this would be his one and only run for the presidency, he might not feel that way in four years. This would be especially true of Gore wins this time around. McCain's new PAC could keep raising him money and keep him in the limelight. Many successful presidential candidates lost their first bids for the White House before coming back to secure the nomination. And unless Bush or Gore accomplishes the improbable and "reforms" the government, McCain's message could be even more seductive in 2004. |
On the Senate floor Tuesday, the McCain began on a workmanlike note, with a speech on the Serbian Democratization Act. He talked for several minutes about U.S. policy in Yugoslavia, and in doing so seemed to want to reassure his colleagues that he's back and ready for business. After he'd safely disposed of that topic, he allowed himself a reflective moment.
He spoke about the privilege of serving America, and how he was reminded of that every day on the campaign trail. He's grateful to the American people, he said, for their consideration. "I intend to do what I can, working with my Congressional colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, to help bring about the changes to the practices and institutions of our democracy that they want and deserve." Those changes are designed to "sustain America's pride in the way we govern ourselves."
The statement was a model of ambiguity, his conduct a model of circumspection. But as he walked through the corridors of the Capitol, bystanders in the hall cheered and reached forward to shake his hand. "We'll be seeing a lot of each other," he told eager reporters, "I'm out of seclusion now." And he later jokingly threw out the idea of reviving the Straight Talk Express for an alumni-only joy ride up to Philadelphia, site of this summer's Republican National Convention.
During the campaign, McCain pilloried “establishment” Republicans and Democrats, saying they are out of touch with America and beholden to special interests.
He won seven GOP primaries but suspended his campaign March 9 after heavy losses to Bush two days earlier on Super Tuesday.
McCain, tanned and relaxed after a vacation, also met privately Monday with members of his campaign team, thanked them and said he took responsibility for any campaign missteps, a senior adviser said. “I'm proud of you,” he told the group.