Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,
speaks to reporters in Phoenix, Ariz., Monday, March 10, 2008.
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Posted on 03/10/2008 1:26:26 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
PHOENIX - Sen. John McCain is finding out what the Republican presidential nomination is worth this week.
Then he plans to buff his foreign policy credentials, remind the nation of his long military history and try to frame the issues for the November election — in three separate tours while his two Democratic opponents continue to struggle for their party's nomination.
"Whenever you're the nominee of your party, I think people will want to re-examine the candidate," the senator said before leaving Arizona following a weekend at home. "I'd like to believe that all 300 million Americans know me, but unfortunately, that's not the case. I'll have to work hard to attract their votes."
But first, he had a full medical screening on Monday.
While McCain has previously been treated for skin cancer, he said there was nothing that precipitated his visit, which included a full medical workup. He said his dermatologist also performed a cancer screening during the past few weeks. Results from all the exams will be released April 15, he said.
"Everything's fine," McCain told reporters during a news conference. "Like most Americans, I go see my doctor fairly frequently."
McCain's next step Monday was fundraising.
McCain has been outraised by both of his potential Democratic opponents, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. Clinton has more than doubled McCain's donations; Obama has nearly tripled the Arizona senator's total.
Six days after clinching the GOP nomination, McCain headed Monday to a fundraiser in St. Louis.
He planned to continue Tuesday in New York, Wednesday in Boston, Thursday in Pennsylvania and Friday in Chicago to counter an explosion in giving to the Democratic contenders who each set personal bests in February.
Sen. Obama raised $55 million in February alone, while Sen. Clinton collected $35 million. McCain has not yet released his February totals.
More broadly, while Obama and Clinton fight on, McCain hopes to shore up his campaign financing, public image and political posture.
On Wednesday, for example, McCain will hold his first general-election town hall meeting in a nostalgic locale: New Hampshire. The Exeter event is a nod to the state's pivotal role as host to the first primary McCain won en route to the nomination.
In the coming weeks, McCain also hopes to deepen voters' understanding of his background and policy views.
His first effort comes in foreign policy next week. McCain keeps a previously scheduled commitment to join a congressional visit to European and Middle Eastern capitals. He plans to meet with a series of world leaders.
Upon his return, McCain plans a major foreign policy address.
Then McCain will take off on a biographical tour that will highlight his military service.
Among the expected stops: McCain Field in Mississippi, a Navy facility named for his grandfather, a former admiral; Jacksonville, Fla., where McCain returned from his time as a Vietnam prisoner of war and commanded the largest flight squadron in the Navy; and Alexandria, Va., and Annapolis, Md., where McCain went to high school and then the Naval Academy.
That tour is expected to be followed by a trip aimed at outlining McCain's positions on issues such as the economy and the environment, as well as his concern for less-affluent areas of the country, such as Appalachia.
McCain's most immediate concern, though, is money.
During the current election cycle, Obama and Clinton have not only outraised him, but far exceeded him in cash on hand.
As of Jan. 31, Obama, a senator from Illinois, had raised $141 million, with $25 million cash on hand; Clinton, a senator from New York and former first lady, had raised $138 million and had $29 million cash on hand.
By contrast, McCain has raised $55 million and had $5.2 million cash on hand at the end of January.
An invitation to his event Wednesday night at the Taj Boston hotel is fairly typical of those this week: $2,300 donations — the maximum allowable for each primary and general election campaign — are required for a private reception with McCain. A half-hour later, the tab drops to $1,000 per person for a more widely accessible general reception.
It was uncertain whether former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who had challenged McCain for the Republican nomination, would attend the event.
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,
speaks to reporters in Phoenix, Ariz., Monday, March 10, 2008.
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
He should. And I don’t care what the crepe-hangers say with all the present hype the filthy socialists are getting, McCain can win in November IF HE RUNS THE RIGHT CAMPAIGN and goes for the throat of the Dim nominee. Both a SO EASY to nail -— their weaknesses far outnumber any strengths (do they have ANY?) -— fight hard McCain, you can do it.
I wish him much luck in getting funds from those "independents" and Democrats to whom he keeps reaching across the aisle.
Who?
Hi, I’m John McCain. Let’s let bygones be bygones......you nativist piece of crap. LOL
call him Mr. Softie,,
maybe someone just needs to send him a diagram that shows where the jugular vein is... just in case he wants to actually assume an aggressive position against Hil or Obama rather than harangue many in “his own party” .. whatever the heck it has been turned in to off late :-)
Sympathy for The Devil
-f
Save your breath for the concession speech, Mac
Allow myself to introduce... myself
I still can’t get over the fact that he is the Republican nominee!
To think that our great nation, blessed at its founding with some of the brightest intellects and most brilliant statesmen in history, has sunk to the point where the best we can muster is McCain, Hillary and Obama.
How I grieve for my beloved country.
I guess the one bright spot about being stuck in Blue State Hell is that I can afford the luxury of a wasted protest vote. So I will refuse to vote for McCain without feeling guilty about helping the Democrats capture the White House.
Hank Hill’s Dad?
Man, I do hope I get the opportunity to meet the Weasel at some event so I can tell him to his face that he ain’t gettin’ a plugged nickel from me. I’ve already sent back two National Committee “begs” with nothing but a note about my opinion of McVain. They’ll probably go straight to the trash, but if enough of us do it, itmight register.
The new FR poll says it all.
Only 11% would vote for McCain because they like him.
Dole tried this. Remember, he resigned from the Senate and tried to run as an outsider; his wife gave an Oprah style speech at the convention. His numbers went up for two weeks, then back down again.
It doesn’t work. The man is 71 years old; he’s been in Washington forever, “reaching” out to the Dems.
He should have spent more time “reaching” out to his own party.
“McCain seeks to reintroduce self”
Hello my friends, I am a backstabbing, lib-loving, global warming myth believing, illegal alien hugging ba*tard.
Won’t you please vote for me? I’ll only f**k you over on the big issues, PROMISE!
I am thinking, The Shining, I am thinking Jack Nicholson, I am thinking “Here’s Johnny!”
And just whom are you hoping he will be conceding to ?
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