McCain seeks to reintroduce self

AP on Yahoo ^ | 3/10/08 | Glen Johnson - ap

[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.

[G Larry]

McCain will be on Bill Bennett’s show after the newsbreak at the bottom of this hour. (6:30 a.m. MDT)

[dforest]

McCain says he hates wasteful government spending.

A donation to McCain, Hillary, or Obama, would be considered wasteful spending on government.

LOL

[sport]

Now the lying begins.

[Outership]

McCain seeks to reintroduce self:

“Hi there, conservative type person. Never mind about me, say hi to my new running mate Duncan Hunter!”

[Content Provider]

Allow myself to introduce... myself

I believe the line actually goes like this:

"Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste..."

[Little Ray]

McCain treats his (and the nation’s) enemies better than he treats his friends (or conservatives, anyway). Don’t look for him to go for Hillary!’s throat (it would be sexist) or Obama’s (...racist).

[Iron Munro]

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.

You are 100% correct.

All of the whining and crying about McCain not being as bad as Hillary or Obama is the reason we end up with such terrible candidates time after time.

If we keep voting for republican candidates because they are not quite the worst of two horrible choices we will never see the republican party field a quality candidate.
As long as they can scare us with a democrat boogey man worse than the republican boogey man they are happy to run standard party hacks for office.

We should demand the best America can offer - not settle for someone who isn't quite as repulsive as the worst the democrats can offer.

Look at all of the dynamic movers and shakers in the country; self made men of ability, wisdom and great accomplishments, men that can inspire and lead.
And the best the republican party can offer is a hack like John McCain?P> Disgusting.

The Scum Also Rises - Is This Really The Best That America Can Do?