McCain returns to NH with visit to Rochester

Sen. John McCain returned to New Hampshire last night, flashing an "OK" sign at an aide as he stepped out onto an airport tarmac in Manchester.

The Arizona Republican will be in Rochester today. He is slated to speak at the Rochester Opera House at noon.

Campaign staffers said McCain will take questions during the event, which is open to the public. No tickets are required.

A spokesman, Jeff Grappone, said other events may be announced today. "John McCain will continue to talk about the issues that matter most to New Hampshire voters," Grappone said, "including leading America to energy independence, unleashing the economy by keeping taxes low and expanding access to affordable, quality health care."

►Too close to call: UNH poll gives Obama a narrow lead (3) ►ARG poll also finds statistical tie in NH (1) ►Editorial: Big media's Obama orgy ►Editorial: McCain is in Rochester, but where is Obama?

The senator's low-key arrival in Manchester stood in stark contrast to his Democratic rival's ongoing visit to the Middle East. Sen. Barack Obama, of Illinois, was swarmed by media as he arrived in Baghdad yesterday for a meeting with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other Iraqi leaders.

It was the second leg of Obama's excursion, following a visit to Afghanistan over the weekend.

McCain spent most of the day in Maine, where he joined former President George H.W. Bush in Kennebunkport and later campaigned in Portland with the state's two Republican senators.

In Manchester last night, there was just one reporter and one photographer waiting for McCain as his plane -- a white, blue and gold Boeing 737-400 emblazoned with his campaign slogan, "Reform, Prosperity, Peace" -- touched down on the Wiggins Airways tarmac.

The Vietnam War veteran limped as he made his way down the metal stairway, a leather briefcase in one hand and a cell phone in the other, and walked straight into an awaiting Chevy Suburban.

Yesterday, the McCain campaign announced it was releasing a new ad in New Hampshire.

The ad, entitled "Pump," says voters can "thank" Obama for rising gas prices at the pump and says McCain "knows we must now drill more in America and rescue our family budgets."

McCain's appearance in Rochester today marks his third campaign stop in New Hampshire since he clinched the Republican Presidential nomination in March. The candidate's last visit to New Hampshire was on June 12, when he spoke at Daniel Webster College in Nashua.

Grappone said the campaign was prepared for an "overflow" crowd at the Rochester Opera House at 31 Wakefield St. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.

The Rochester Opera House hosted several presidential campaign stops in the lead-up to this year's New Hampshire Primary. Obama spoke there on the night of Jan. 7, hours before the polls opened.

He was met by only one reporter and one photographer.

Everyone else was on the Obama-Tour-Of-Doody hoping to suck up enough to get an invite to the Second Coming.

This jerk and Barry are doing some type of "debate" with the Traitor Rick Warren at his "church".

This bum went to Syria when their official policy was to kill as many American Forces as possible.

McCain should know better. 'Another reason not to vote for a Senator.

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