Supporting McCain behind enemy lines Republicans trying to take advantage of divisions in Denver. Supporting McCain behind enemy lines
By The Associated Press
Published: August 26, 2008
DENVER — As Democrats try to mollify disappointed supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Republicans pushed the theme Monday that Democrats are divided and open to voting for John McCain.
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To try to cement the point, the Republican National Committee's Denver "war room” presented three Clinton supporters and a former Democratic congressman, each of whom is supporting McCain.
"He is a true statesman who will always put the country first,” said Tim Penney a former Democratic congressman from Minnesota, now an independent. "With Obama, we have words; with McCain, we have deeds. With Obama, we have rhetoric; with McCain, we have a record.”
The event — the first of daily GOP news conferences aimed at injecting the McCain campaign into the media's convention narrative — featured Debra Bartoshevich, a Clinton delegate from Wisconsin who was stripped of her status as a delegate after announcing she would vote for McCain.
"During the primary, I was a huge supporter of Hillary Clinton,” Bartoshevich told reporters. "Senator Obama is not ready to lead this nation.”
Bartoshevich said she's talked to other Clinton delegates who will support McCain in the fall but who are not ready to go public.
More strident was Cynthia Ruccia, a longtime Democratic activist, hard-core Clinton supporter from Ohio. Her attraction to McCain seemed to have more to do with being angry at the Obama campaign's treatment of Clinton than much agreement with McCain on the issues.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a key Clinton supporter this spring, discounted reports of lingering rifts.
"There may be a few outliers, but … overall there is going to be tremendous unity and Hillary is going to be leading the charge,” Schumer said. "I've talked to her privately.”
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Well those who want to support McBush just because their favored Senator didn't win, is going to let their sour grapes be this countrys undoing. When they get times rougher then they are now, due to rising fuel costs, and even their groceries costing more, then their arrogance will be deserved in the long run when they feel the effects of the economic state a republican will put us in. Arrogance never gets anyone anything but hurt in the end, and those people deserve the pain.
John McCain told a crowd at a fundraiser in Sacramento, Calif., that his wife is on her way to the embattled nation of Georgia.
"Cindy is not here today, and I'm sorry she's not,” said McCain. "She's on her way to the little country of Georgia.”
He did not say why his wife was traveling there nor the precise nature of her visit.
McCain calls Obama ‘honorable'
John McCain gave a nod Monday to Democratic rival Barack Obama as his "very honorable opponent” and collected the backing of a celebrated Hispanic entertainer.
McCain appeared at a Phoenix high school for the endorsement of Daddy Yankee, a Puerto Rican reggae music icon.
"This is a tough presidential campaign we're in,” McCain said. "I have a very honorable opponent. There are stark differences between us.”
McCain started a busy week, seeking to grab a slice of media attention from Obama who will claim his party's nomination on Thursday.
No drama expected for GOP platform
Conservative and moderate Republican activists who've exposed party divisions over abortion, gay rights and more in past campaigns predict smoother sailing this week as the GOP settles on its statement of principles and policies for the presidential election.
Sharp divisions still exist but there appears to be little taste for complicating John McCain's chances by mounting a symbolic platform fight as the document is hashed out in Minneapolis starting today.
Senator says he won't be on ticket
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said Monday that he's out of the running to be John McCain's vice presidential nominee.
Thune, an early McCain supporter who has been a mouthpiece for the campaign, said he has not given the campaign any personal documents used to vet prospective running mates.
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