Associated Press – February 11, 2008
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Republican John McCain challenged the notion he is struggling to rally conservative critics as he picked up the endorsement Monday of evangelical leader Gary Bauer.
“We’re doing fine. We’re doing fine,” McCain told reporters in Annapolis, dismissing the notion that losses in two states on Saturday had hurt his campaign.
McCain lost in Kansas and Louisiana on Saturday to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, although he won narrowly in Washington state. The Arizona senator is all but assured his party nod after rolling up huge numbers of delegates, 719, to the national convention. Huckabee has 234.
“We have close to 800 delegates. Last time I checked, Governor Huckabee had very few, so I think I’m happy with the situation I’m in,” McCain said. “I’m quite pleased, recognizing that we have a lot of work to do.”
His campaign announced the endorsement of Bauer, former head of the Family Research Council and founder of the Campaign for Working Families, as McCain left Annapolis for Richmond, Va. Bauer himself unsuccessfully sought the GOP presidential nomination in 2000.
A well-known abortion foe, Bauer said in a statement that McCain “has dedicated his life to defending human rights around the world, including the rights of the unborn.”
Huckabee, too, is known for opposing abortion rights. In Annapolis, McCain chuckled at a question about why people persist in voting for Huckabee despite McCain’s lock on the nomination.
“Because they like him,” McCain said. “I never expected a unanimous vote, although I would certainly like to have that. But I think we’ll continue to win primaries across the country, including tomorrow.
“I hope that we’ll do well here. I have great confidence that we will, both here and in Virginia and in the District of Columbia,” McCain said.
Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., vote on their choice for party nominee on Tuesday.
McCain acknowledged he has had trouble performing well in states that hold caucuses instead of primary elections. He said the kind of organization needed to win caucuses would have taken money he hasn’t had. He noted some of the big states voting next – Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania – are holding primary elections, not caucuses.
“We’ll continue to work hard, particularly now that we’ve got enough funds to organize,” McCain said.
McCain said it is Huckabee’s right to challenge the results in Washington. Huckabee advisers are protesting that the state GOP called the race too quickly for McCain.
“I think it’s pretty clear that we won,” McCain said at a news conference. “He obviously has the right to challenge if he chooses to. But I honestly don’t know enough about the details, except I know that state parties decide elections when they have sufficient evidence as to who has won and who has lost. That’s not unusual in any way.”
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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posted February 11, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Bauer’s endorsement may not be something that McCain needs or wants. I would be much more likely NOT to vote for anyone Bauer endorses, and i do not think I am alone. Bauer represents everything about evangelical religion (of any denomination or religion) that people are glad to be finished with.
posted February 11, 2008 at 4:00 pm
McCain isn’t my choise for president, because he is way too conservative for me…and having this person, Bauer, back him…just continues to tell me I won’t vote for him.
posted February 11, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Count me in.
Gary Bauer endorsing for anyone is an endorsement against that person.
Peace!
posted February 11, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I wonder what McCain gave or promised Bauer to get the endorsement.
McCain knew better than almost anyone else in the country (surely) how bad a president GWB was, yet he campaigned for him. John McCain desperately wants to be president; too desperately.
posted February 11, 2008 at 6:21 pm
(Sigh) Four posts that amount to “Conservatives bad!” Why do I continue to come here? 0:-/
God bless.
posted February 11, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I won’t vote for anyone who appears to be a friend and follower of Anti-Roe vs Wade, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, or any other far-right mind set about bringing their religious moral rights on to every American who may not think as they do. I like balance. Our laws should make all Americans have justice, not just cliques.
posted February 11, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Make that five, Joey.
posted February 11, 2008 at 8:54 pm
With all the serious problems the US has, like Iraq, budget, economy, Global Warming, education, etc. to urge spending time beating on abortion is frivolous.
posted February 11, 2008 at 9:25 pm
“(Sigh) Four posts that amount to “Conservatives bad!” Why do I continue to come here? 0:-/”
Well, you certainly won’t get the tired “conservatives are bad” argument from me. However, I do wonder how anyone, conservative, liberal or moderate, could support McCain. :-/
posted February 11, 2008 at 9:55 pm
But being aware of what’s at stake for the women of the country is not frivolous. The right to an abortion will definitely be in play in this election; at least two Supreme Court justices will surely retire in the next four to eight years and if a Republican names their replacement he will name people who will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. So abortion will go back to the states and in a lot of states it will immediately become illegal.
If you or your daughter or granddaughter is of an age that they could become pregnant, through rape or for any other reason, you need to keep that in mind as you vote this year. Republicans will take away your right to an abortion if they can. Huckabee will try to change the Constitution to take it away all across the country.
posted February 12, 2008 at 12:07 am
Whether he’s conservative or not, McCain looks to be a lock for the nomination. Bauer is just playing politics in order so show he’s with the winner.
posted February 12, 2008 at 11:00 am
Joey, Shane and other conservative friends and combatants
You come here for the reason I do. You cannot hone your edge by joining in an agreement fest with friends. Preaching to the choir is like punching pillows. We all need resistance to feel like we have accomplished something.
So tell me why Bauer is good. I have family and friends who are very conservative and even they are repulsed by his tactics and shenanigans. Liberal or conservative, his approach to politics makes everyone cringe.
All things considered I do not hate or despise McCain. I simply prefer Obama – and Clinton. It is not based on personalities. There are qualities about McCain I admire – not so with his GOP compatriots. But he is too quick to allign with folks who may prove to be his undoing.
posted February 12, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Read a nice article about all the contenders, for a change, a reporter asked them what pets they owned. Hillary has a dog, Barack plans to buy his children a dog when the campaigning is through, Huckabee has two dogs, and McCain has 2 dogs, 2 turtles, one cat, a ferret, 3 parakeets, and 13 saltwater fish! So right away we know all these people have love, compassion and humor. McCain is pulled all ways, trying to be fair and stay in good standing with everyone. That’s not possible to please all of the people all of the time. He’s a special person in his own right, but not for President of the U.S..