McCain: Good Scenario Where We Can Win
CBS News correspondent Chip Reid caught up with John McCain late Monday night, Election Eve. McCain told him "you can't imagine" what it's like being as close as he may be to the Oval Office. They also discussed the major differences McCain has with Barack Obama. And while admitting he's "still the underdog," McCain asserted that key battleground states have tightened up.
Reid: What do you envision happening tonight? What do you think the scenario is going to be?
McCain: I think these battleground states have now closed up, almost all of them, and I believe there's a good scenario where we can win and, look -- I know I'm still the underdog. I understand that. But this is -- you can't imagine, can't imagine the excitement of an individual to be this close to the most important position in the world and, you know -- enjoy it, enjoy it. I'll never forget it as long as I live.
Reid: Barack Obama had 90,000 in northern Virginia going crazy. How can you compete with that kind of enthusiasm?
McCain: Well, again -- Sarah Palin had 20,000 people at one of her events today. We had 20 -- 23,000 on a very hot day in northern Virginia, too. So, look -- she has ignited an element of enthusiasm that I haven't seen before. This is a historic election, as we all know, and I think it's up for grabs, and we're going to work hard until the polls close. We're going to be doing some more campaigning tomorrow, believe it or not.
Reid: I know, I know. You just don't stop. If Barack Obama does win, what is your greatest worry?
McCain: I think we just have different philosophical differences. He really is on the far left part of the liberal philosophy in America.
Reid: In one poll, a pretty sizeable percentage of people, of your supporters, said they would be scared if he were the president.
McCain: Oh, no, I don't -- ya know -- I don't think that's appropriate, and I've been through this at several town hall meetings. I do believe it's not good for the country to have someone who believes we need to spread the wealth around, and that just isn't his comment to Joe the Plumber, that is his record. That's his voting record. That's his stated positions. And when his own running mate says that, in the first six months, he would be tested by an international crisis -- look -- I've been in international crises. I don't want that to happen. And it wouldn't be happening when I'm president.