McCain's Clean Sweep
ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- Through horrible weather and traffic problems John McCain emerged triumphant in the Potomac primaries today - as predicted - even though Mike Huckabee gave him a brief scare in Virginia.
"Thank you, voters of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, for a clean sweep of the Potomac primary," McCain said to a crowd cheering his name.
"I want to commend my friend, Governor Huckabee, whose spirited campaign, many gifts as a communicator and advocate, and passionate supporters are a credit to him and our party. He certainly keeps things interesting, a little too interesting at times tonight, I must confess. But I have even more reason to appreciate just how formidable a campaigner he is."
McCain appeared to be setting Barack Obama as his competition for the general election using Obama's signature theme and inserted his own POW experience.
"Hope, my friends, is a powerful thing. I can attest to that better than many, for I have seen men's hopes tested in hard and cruel ways that few will ever experience," he said.
"To encourage a country with only rhetoric rather than sound and proven ideas that trust in the strength and courage of free people is not a promise of hope. It is a platitude."
In case anyone missed his slight reference, McCain ended his speech with one of Obama's signature phrases. "And, my friends, I promise you, I am fired up and ready to go."
McCain hits his day job at the U.S. Capitol for the second day in a row tomorrow to meet with House Republicans, in an effort to get party members to unify behind his almost-nomination.