actually the Panama Canal Zone was a US Territory thru 12-31-1999; McCain was born in a US Air Force hospital to US parents, one of whom was serving in the US Navy.
How far do people have to stretch to find reasons to go after McCain.
Not quite. Governmental control of the Canal Zone transferred to the Panama Canal Commission in 1979. US jurisdiction essentially ended at that point. Guardia National started doing the policing powers, and made a habit under Torrijos and Noriega of harrassing American military with traffic stops and other petty crap. Just let one tire wander over a yellow line way out in the boonies and you would be pulled over. A couple of dollars bribe would usually take care of it, but you had to be careful you weren't dealing with the one honest guy there.
Full control and turnover of all facilities, including the Canal, occured in 1999.