April 26, 2007
To The Strains Of "Barbara Ann," McCain Greets Columbia
John McCain’s second stop in South Carolina today took him to an active flour processing factory off Gervais Street in downtown Columbia. 200 supporters packed into a dark, dank room. There was no air conditioning, because, presumably, the flour would blow around.
As McCain’s entourage turned into the complex, they passed a guy waving a Confederate Flag, a van emblazoned with “Kerry-MCCAIN signs, a half-naked woman posing for an erotic photo shoot, and a Bermuda-shorts wearing Beach Boy.
“We all know that John McCain sacrificed for his country,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham by way of introduction. “Now we’re going to sacrifice for him.” McCain kept his remarks mercifully short. The supporters cheered with genuinely. His standard stump speech ensued.
And then McCain and about 40 members of the press corps trooped across the street into one of the very few buildings that survived Sherman’s civil war wrath – a tiny converted school house. Grits milled from the flour company awaited. Maureen Dowd wandered over, arched an eyebrow, and did not partake. But many in the press did. They said it was delicious.
Mostly, the press asked about Iraq and McCain gave his standard answers. At one point, he conceded that he “understands that the clock is ticking.” Asked about Rudy Giuliani’s statement that the country would suffer more casualties if a Democrat were elected president in 2008, McCain passed. “I will not say anything about that. “ He allowed that “I believe that America will be safer if I am president.”
It’s not clear if McCain saw the protesters, but his staff tried to turn one of their symbols into campaign fodder: McCain entered and exited the stage to the strains of Barbara Ann. [MARC AMBINDER]
Posted at 03:10 PM
Comments
What happened to his straight talk express? He can't even answer a simple question about whether he agrees with Giuliani's comment that that the country would suffer more casualties if a Democrat were elected president in 2008. McCain is a phony who has absolutely no convictions left in him. This phony is not going to go anywhere. Come gop primaries it will be repeat of 2000.
McCainIsPhony | 04.26.07 03:57 PM
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