McCain disputes report, says he'll seek re-election

The Arizona Republic ^ | November 14, 2002 | Billy House

[dittomom]

WASHINGTON - Make no mistake, Sen. John McCain is likely to run for re-election in 2004.

McCain, stunned Wednesday when told, wrongly, that Arizona's other senator was suggesting McCain will not seek re-election, declared, "I am most likely to run for re-election."

McCain's statement is one of his most definitive yet about whether he'll seek a fourth Senate term. It was prompted by a wire service reporter's misunderstanding of what he'd heard Sen. Jon Kyl tell The Arizona Republic moments earlier in a hallway at the Capitol building.

In fact, Kyl, had correctly noted to the newspaper, when asked about what he knew of McCain's plans for 2004, that McCain has not yet officially announced his intentions.

Then he later said, "I can't imagine that I won't be serving as junior senator from Arizona in another two years."

The wire reporter sought a response from McCain. Problem was, he'd misheard Kyl's statement as: "I can't imagine that I will be serving as junior senator from Arizona in another two years."

"He said that?" responded McCain in disbelief, doing a startled double-take in front of about a dozen reporters.

It was then that McCain clarified that he is, in fact, most likely to run for re-election.

Speculation that McCain, 66, who was defeated in his 2000 bid for the GOP presidential nomination and who has been battling skin cancer, might retire has been fueled partly by his own ruminations.

In his memoir, Worth the Fighting For, released in September, the senator writes, "Has my time passed? Is it time to withdraw from public duty, retire to my home on Oak Creek, and pursue my private interests?"

But speculation about McCain's future has not been limited to whether he'll run for re-election to the Senate. As recently as Sunday, ABC's This Week host George Stephanopoulos asked potential 2004 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass, whether he'd consider McCain as a running mate in a split-party ticket.

"Oh, God, that is - listen, I haven't even declared a candidacy yet, and you're trying to get me to pick," Kerry said. "But if you want to define somebody who's interesting and speaks to America, John McCain is a dear friend . . . and he's a great public person."

[dittomom]

Didn't find this posted by anyone else. I guess it's more prominent news when someone speculates that McCain will switch parties or retire.

[dittomom]

You asked me on another thread about McCain, so I thought you'd find this of interest...

[BushRep]

Thanks Senator.

You may be a maverick, but you're a soldier first. This takes Arizona off the 2004 table.

[dittomom]

ARIZONA PING!!!

[My2Cents]

Good catch, dittomom. You're right. Speculation about McCain switching parties, or running for President in '04 as a Democrat or Independent, seem to attract more interest.

[dittomom]

Yup. It was on page A7 of the print edition...

[hsmomx3]

You've got to be kidding!! I hope Scott Bundgaard challenges him. I think I'll email Scott and tell him to RUN. He's more conservative than McCain and he represented our area at the state senate level.

[KriegerGeist]

It would be a real mess if McCain and Chafee both held hands and jumped. You know who that would give control back to...
Right! Hillary.

[ambrose]

I hope that skin cancer is under control... a Rat was just elected governor of Arizona

[HiJinx]

Please, don't remind us!! LOL!!

[billorites]

"I hope that skin cancer is under control... "

Pesky rinonoma.

[GraniteStateConservative]

The likelihood of a Dem Senate slips away seat by seat.

How delicious. : )

[Spiff]

Thanks Senator. You may be a maverick, but you're a soldier first. This takes Arizona off the 2004 table.

I really hope that you're being sarcastic.

McCain can just go to hell - he will not get my vote under any circumstances. He's a traitor of the worst kind, unworthy of the Republican label.

[ambrose]

How so? McCain has been a good soldier ever since Bush signed CFR.

[gatex]

"You may be a maverick, but you're a soldier first. This takes Arizona off the 2004 table."

Why does a "soldier first" vigorously campaign in several states for gun control?

[BushRep]

No, I'm serious.

With the exception of McCain-Feingold, which I have strong qualms about, he is usually on our side.

The tax cut did get me angry.

[rightwing2]

McCain, stunned Wednesday when told, wrongly, that Arizona's other senator was suggesting McCain will not seek re-election, declared, "I am most likely to run for re-election."

Very disturbing news. I was hoping we could get a real conservative to replace lefty McCain like Rep. Jeff Flake. After McCain's constant backstabbing against Bush and the GOP, it is long past time for him to be shown the door. If he doesn't leave, he needs a good kick in the butt to get him out of there.

[BushRep]

I can't stand Flake.

He is ignorant, and he loves Fidel Castro.

I'd rather see J.D. Hayworthe take the seat if McCain had called it quits.

[StopDemocratsDotCom]

I TOTALLY AGREE!

[rightwing2]

I can't stand Flake. He is ignorant, and he loves Fidel Castro. I'd rather see J.D. Hayworthe take the seat if McCain had called it quits.

Flake is only the second most conservative member of the House of Representatives, which according to some anti-conservative Freeper posters qualifies him for RINO status I reckon. His free trade zeal to trade with Communist Cuba is probably his only left of center position. He is MUCH MORE conservative than either JD Hayworth or John McShame.