Posted on 02/08/2008 4:14:26 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Flanked by Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, John McCain pledged to never to surrender in Iraq and said he would open all the world's markets to Wichita's aviation industry.
In his speech to about 350 people, he also invoked former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's name several times, in an apparent effort to draw in undecided voters who had supported Romney.
McCain's visit to a large hanger near Mid-Continent Airport came just hours after his primary competition, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke in a hanger on the other side of the city. While McCain has a sizable lead, McCain said "it isn't over yet."
"We can win in Kansas," McCain said in front of a line of five American flags, four Kansas flags and one Navy flag.
Before his speech, McCain received a strong endorsement from Brownback. The Kansas senator highlighted the five and half years McCain spent as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and told supporters a story about former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole wearing a POW bracelet for McCain while he was imprisoned.
Brownback also sought to ensure voters that McCain is a conservative, noting a "24-year" record of pro-life voting and pro-Second Amendment voting.
"He has shot more guns than anybody else in the field," Brownback said, in reference to the presidential candidates' field. "I think bigger ones too possibly."
McCain's appearance in Wichita is his only scheduled stop in Kansas on the eve of the state's Republican caucuses.
McCain, 71, has been a U.S. Senator since 1986. He is well-known not only for his role in politics, but because of the harrowing stories of the 5 ½ years he spent as a prisoner of war in Vietnam being beaten and tortured.
Though his campaign faltered in its early stages, he has become the clear front-runner for the Republican nomination.
But many conservatives --particularly those on conservative talk radio --are still skeptical of him because of his vote against banning same-sex marriage and his role in immigration reform, which many have labeled as amnesty.
After former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney suspended his campaign Thursday, McCain sought to reach out to conservatives.
But his primary competition, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, is a former Baptist pastor, and he is trying to secure those conservative votes.
Huckabee flew into Wichita at 11 a.m. today to rally his supporters less than 24 hours before Kansas Republicans take sides in caucuses statewide.
U.S. Congressman Ron Paul is also still in the race, although he has only a small percentage of the delegates needed to land the Republican nomination. Paul supports have also planned a rally in Wichita at 6 p.m. today -- Paul does not plan to be there.
A week ago, Rodney Plett of Wichita planned to vote for Paul. He's still undecided but was leaning toward Huckabee after hearing him speak earlier today. Plett also came out to see McCain, which he said will help him make a final decision before he participates in Saturday's caucus.
"I gotta see what he has to say," Plett said of McCain. "I'll make my mind up this evening."
9 months plus of this stuff ahead.. ickkk..
Unbelievable! Or should I say Inconceivable!
Has anybody started a drive to write in Ronald Reagan in November?
Would a national primary in September, followed by an election in November be too much to ask for?
Well good luck with that.
By opening the Southern Border...
>>>John McCain pledged to never to surrender in Iraq...
It’s not a drive, but it is what I’m going to do.
The current procedure reveals the true character of a candidate. They just started too early.
Obama got 17,000 plus overflow in Seattle today.
Jiminy Christmas! It is spelled hangAr! hangAr! Boy, that bugs me..
Another meaningless McCainiac promise unless he proposes to sell US aircraft and classified aeronautical technology to China, Iran, North Korea and other regimes where such sales are prohibited as a national security function.
I think a lot of good candidates don’t even run because this process has gotten so ridiculously long.
The MSM had to much time to bolster McCain. Oh and don’t forget Huckabee. Huck had so much face time on Fox I could not believe it. Well, actually I did believe it!
McCain probably did more to kill Boeing in Wichita than anyone with the 2003 tanker dealhe’s so proud of destroying.
threeeee-— hunnnndred and fiiiifty people!
WOW! unbelieveble, were thier crowd control and security to hold back the autograph seekers?
In addition to the small crowds, you can expect conservatives to not do their usual volunteering for phone banks and grassroots stuff for McCain. There will also be no coattails for McCain.
God will get you for that, Cindy!
I already notified my county Republican headquarters I would NOT be helping this fall with brochure handouts, voter registrations, and road signs.
The only thing good about McCain being the nominee is that insomniacs won't have to be taking too many sleeping pills as usual.
McCain will put everyone to sleep just by being McCain.
At least Romney was new blood, and exciting.
McCain is tired and worn out.... and hunched over.
It's no fault of his own, of course. Just that the man has reached an age where he should be sitting back enjoying life.
He will not be able to handle 9 months of intense campaigning, followed by four or eight years of the most pressure packed job in the world.
I'm going back to sleep now, if you don't mind. I just saw McCain on TV, and my eyes are getting heavy.......zzzzzzzzzzzz
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