John McCain 2008 Presidential Campaign
Arizona Senator John McCain formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on April 25, 2007, although he had discussed running for months prior. If elected in 2008, McCain would become the oldest person elected President at 72 years old. He has dismissed concerns about his age and past health concerns (malignant melanoma in 2000), stating in 2005 that his health was "excellent." McCain would also become the first President of the United States to be born in a U.S. territory (the Panama Canal Zone) outside of the current 50 states. Although McCain was not born within a state of the United States, his US citizenship (and future eligibility to be elected to the presidency) was assured at birth both by jus sanguinis, since both of his parents were U.S. citizens, and jus soli, as the Canal Zone was at that time a United States possession. Once considered the Republican front runner, McCain has dropped in the polls and also has fallen behind in fund raising. McCain gained national prominence during his surprisingly strong presidential campaign in 2000. However, he eventually lost the Republican primaries to now-President George W. Bush.
Campaign development
McCain began the race as the presumptive front runner and the most formidable of either party, based on his longevity in the Senate and his previous race in 2000. McCain informally stated he will be a candidate for the 2008 Presidential Election on the Late Show with David Letterman on February 28, 2007. John McCain officially announced his 2008 run for President in Portsmouth, New Hampshire two months later. By a few weeks prior to making his announcement on Letterman, he was beginning to trail behind former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani in the polls. McCain supported the 2007 proposal by President George W. Bush for a "surge", an increase in the number of U.S. troops deployed in the Iraq War. He has started a series of campaign events entitled the "No Surrender Tour."
Missed votes in Senate
In May 2007, it was reported that McCain had missed 42 consecutive votes (five straight weeks) in the Senate while he was conducting his presidential campaign. From March to May, McCain only attended three floor votes in the Senate. According to Washington Post statistics, he has missed fifty-one percent of votes in the Senate.
Fund raising issues
McCain's fund raising results and campaign financials have been poor. After first-quarter fundraising totals were released in early April, totals showed McCain's $13.6 million lagging behind rivals in the race. During the second quarter he did worse, raising $11.2 million. In early July, the McCain campaign let go fifty to a hundred staffers and forced others to accept pay cuts or switch to no pay.
Endorsements
Congressional
- Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC)
- Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Ranking Member of Senate Homeland Security Committee
- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
- Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Chairman of Senate Republican Conference
- Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), Former Senate Majority Leader, Current Senate Minority Whip
- Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
- Sen. John Warner (R-VA), Former Chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee
- Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR), Ranking Member of Senate Aging Committee
- Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Ranking Member of Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
- Former Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH)
- Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL)
- Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)
- Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
- Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
- Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
- Rep. Ric Keller (R-FL)
- Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL)
- Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL)
- Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH)
- Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA)
- Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS)
- Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Member of House Foreign Affairs Committee
- Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ)
- Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ)
- Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT)
- Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL)
- Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI)
Governors
- Former Gov. Bill Clements (R-TX)
- Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN)
- Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. (R-UT)
- Former Gov. Frank Keating (R-OK)
- Former Gov. John McKernan (R-ME)
- Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Vice-Chairman of National Governors Association
- Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R-PA), First Secretary of Homeland Security
- Former Acting Gov. Jane Swift (R-MA)
Other well-known figures
- Henry Kissinger, Former National Security Adviser and Secretary of State under President Richard Nixon and President Gerald Ford.
- Charles R. Schwab, famous investor and founder of the brokerage firm Charles Schwab Corporation
- Lawrence Eagleburger, Former Secretary of State under President George H.W. Bush
- Alexander Haig, Former Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan
- George Schultz, Former Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan
- John Thain, CEO of the New York Stock Exchange
- James Woolsey, former CIA Director under President Bill Clinton
- Curt Schilling, Boston Red Sox pitcher
Criticisms
John McCain has been frequently criticized by conservatives for his position on Campaign finance reform, Immigration, tax cuts and same-sex "marriage". Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania) claimed that McCain is not only erratic in his positions, but does not serve the best interests of conservatives. He has also been criticized by the fiscal conservative political action committee (PAC) Club for Growth. Saying that,
"While Senator McCain’s economic record contains a number of pro-growth positions, such as his support for school choice and free trade, and his steadfast opposition to wasteful government spending, his overall record is tainted by a marked antipathy towards the free market and individual freedom."
Focus on the Family chairman James Dobson criticized McCain's opposition to passing a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage and also cites McCain's moderate family positions as detracting factors.
See also
John McCain 2008 Presidential Election