McCain Responds to Conservatives' Criticism
CHICAGO -- On the flight from Missouri to Illinois last night, John McCain talked to reporters about the outcry from high-profile conservatives about his candidacy.
The continued fire from conservative Republicans, especially talk radio types like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and even Ann Coulter, who have all declared publicly that they will not support his candidacy, is getting louder despite McCain's support from other conservatives such as former Solicitor General Ted Olson and former Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Tex.
"I could never understand that because of my pleasant and winning and pleasing personality," he joked. "I think there are people that have significant disagreements with some positions I took, and I understand that."
He added that he hopes to maintain his appeal to independent voters as well, but admits to having "work to do" in rallying the Republican base. "We'd like to have a totally united party but I realize that there are some people that just may not be able to support me at the end of the day…but I have to work as hard as I can to get as many members of the party because we have an uphill battle for November," he said.
He also said he understood why Mitt Romney has been heavily criticizing him lately.
"I understand politics and I know he's looking at the same polling data that we are and these kinds of things happen when you get down to the finish line," McCain said. "I think that here in the last few days the only thing left that they haven't tried to hit me with is the kitchen sink."
McCain even hedged that the race for the GOP nomination will be over after Super Tuesday. "Not often do I ask for divine intercession but I have asked for that."
"From what we see in the polls, I think there is a very good chance it could be over on Tuesday but I think there are still a lot of undecided voters, but I'm hoping the sooner we get that done, the sooner I can work on uniting the party."