The State Endorses John McCain

The State, South Carolina's leading newspaper, has endorsed John McCain for President.

FOR SOUTH CAROLINA, and to some extent for the nation, the choice among Republican candidates for president has come down to two men.

First Rudy Giuliani, then Mitt Romney looked at political realities and fled the Palmetto State, deciding their priorities lay elsewhere. Fred Thompson seems to be running in this first-in-the-South primary just to say he did. Ron Paul keeps on being Ron Paul, former nominee of the Libertarian Party.

The two remaining contenders here happen to be the two strongest candidates — Mike Huckabee and John McCain. Gov. Huckabee is an exciting newcomer who shows a wonderful ability to connect with voters’ concerns, and Republicans could do far worse than to choose him. But his utter lack of knowledge of foreign affairs is unsettling.

It’s not just about Iraq and Afghanistan. As freshly demonstrated by the incident involving U.S. warships in the Strait of Hormuz last week and the assassination earlier of the opposition leader in the world’s most volatile democracy (which possesses nuclear weapons, and shelters Osama bin Laden), our commander in chief will need a far broader and deeper understanding of our relationship to the world than on-the-job training can adequately provide.

Clearly, the best Republican candidate to lead our nation at this time is U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona. He has the necessary experience, not just in time served, but in the quality of understanding he exhibits across the board.

The value of his experience is multiplied by his integrity and independence. He is a slave to no ideology or faction. Not only will he work with anyone who wants to do the right thing anytime, he is usually the driving force at the head of coalitions to get the job done — from the Gang of 14 that broke Senate gridlock and paved the way for the confirmation of conservative judges to his principled leadership on campaign finance reform. He knew the political risk he took leading the quest for a comprehensive solution to illegal immigration, but he believed securing our borders was too important a priority not to try.

He is deeply respected by his colleagues in both parties, despite the fact that, as he jokes, he has never sought the “Miss Congeniality” title. No one is as likely as he to fight, expose and defeat waste, fraud or corruption.

Experience, certainly. Integrity, even more so. But John McCain’s most conspicuous virtue is courage. He is a brave and tough man who unlike some candidates has no need to bluster, but is able to speak with humility and generosity to those with whom he disagrees. A McCain presidency would do much to restore confidence in American leadership, at home and abroad.

There is of course the extraordinary physical and moral courage that he displayed as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, where he withstood nightmarish torture for years rather than let his country or his comrades down. But he also possesses the kind of political fortitude that keeps him from giving up on any worthwhile quest. He evinces a wisdom born in pain, a confidence earned in many battles. When others despair, John McCain knows he has seen worse, and keeps striding forward.

For much of the past year, his candidacy was dismissed, his support depleted, his coffers empty. He kept on, and gradually won the doubters back to his cause.

More to the point, consider the wisdom and courage he has displayed with regard to our nation’s struggle in Iraq. For four years, he was nearly alone in his insistent criticism of the Bush administration for sending too few troops to quell the violence. When the president finally adopted the McCain approach a year ago, the senator lent Gen. David Petraeus his unwavering support at a time when so many in both major parties either thought he was wrong, or simply lacked the courage to stand with him. He was right all along.

John McCain has shown more clearly than anyone on the American political scene today that he loves his country, and would never mislead or dishonor it. He is almost unique in his determination to do what is right, whatever the cost. And he usually has a clear vision of what’s right.

So it is that we confidently and enthusiastically endorse John McCain for the Republican nomination for president of the United States.

A Good Day for John McCain...

...and a bad, bad, terrible day for Rudy Giuliani.

First, The Tampa Bay Tribune has endorsed John McCain for the Republican nomination. In their words:

No matter the distractions of this election season, national security is the paramount issue facing our country and McCain has the best foreign-policy resume, bar none.

McCain is a decorated war veteran and sits on the Senate committees that oversee foreign affairs and the armed services. He has a deep knowledge about the threats we face. He knows the players. He could hit the ground running.

McCain is a known quantity, unlike some of the celebrity candidates. While we haven't always agreed with him - the campaign-finance reform he passed with Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold was flawed on many levels -we respect his backbone, his honesty and his unwavering patriotism.

McCain showed uncommon political courage last summer by backing President Bush's decision to increase troop strength in Baghdad. Actually, the senator recommended this strategy after famously comparing former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's bare-bones strategy to the game of whack-a-mole. "I would much rather lose a campaign than lose a war," he said. How do you not respect that?

I agree with the Tribune's assessment. Now is the time for John McCain to lead America. This endorsement is bad news for Rudy Giuliani, who has campaigned hard on security issues. Many agree, including myself, that it is John is who is better prepared to deal with those issues.

Compounding this is a new national poll that indicates that John McCain is the clear national leader right now among the Republican Party. While not a great indicator for the upcoming Michigan and South Carolina primaries, it does provide some insight into Super Tuesday on February 5th.

To make matters worse for Rudy, a new SurveyUSA poll shows that John McCain is now leading in Florida. Florida has always been Rudy's "firewall" state. He has poured most of his resources into the state, and a loss there would not only deny him the momentum he hoped to have for Super Tuesday, it would likely shatter much of his support nationwide. He has already shown major erosion in support, this would be the final nail in the coffin of his campaign.

The Mac's Extraordinary Comeback

McCain's people couldn't believe it. Just this summer he had been given up for dead politically.

He lost his top staffers. He had run out of money. He had to shutdown campaign offices. He couldn't pay the rent. His campaign was dragging bottom.

Then thanks to an assist from loyal friends and neighbors - and the adoption of some serious belt tightening measures - McCain was able to right his campaign.

Today, the McCain campaign is hitting on all eight cylinders. And causing waves.

"Mac is back."

Read the rest here.

South Carolina Debate Tonight!

Fox News is hosting a Republican debate tonight in South Carolina at 6 PM PST, 9 PM EST. Be sure to tune in.

The Surge- One Year In

It is now one year since the Surge has been put into effect. Senator's John McCain and Joe Lieberman, the later has endorsed John for President, by the way, have written an article in the Wall Street Journal explaining that the surge has worked:

It was exactly one year ago tonight, in a televised address to the nation, that President George W. Bush announced his fateful decision to change course in Iraq, and to send five additional U.S. combat brigades there as part of a new counterinsurgency strategy and under the command of a new general, David Petraeus.

At the time of its announcement, the so-called surge was met with deep skepticism by many Americans -- and understandably so.

After years of mismanagement of the war, many people had grave doubts about whether success in Iraq was possible. In Congress, opposition to the surge from antiwar members was swift and severe. They insisted that Iraq was already "lost," and that there was nothing left to do but accept our defeat and retreat.

In fact, they could not have been more wrong. And had we heeded their calls for retreat, Iraq today would be a country in chaos: a failed state in the heart of the Middle East, overrun by al Qaeda and Iran.

Be sure to read the rest.

Here is a short press release in addition to the WSJ article:

"A year ago today the president announced that five additional brigades would be deployed to Iraq, which Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant called a central battlefront in al Qaeda's war against us. I had long argued that a change in course in Iraq was critical to achieve success there. Today, thanks to the tremendous leadership of General Petraeus and the bravery of our troops, the surge is working.

"When the troop surge and new counterinsurgency campaign was first implemented, many politicians either outright opposed it or equivocated and hedged, but I was convinced that the new counterinsurgency plan was sound and the courage of our ground commander and his troops would prevail over the Islamist extremist enemy. Today, operations by American forces, in partnership with our Iraqi allies, have put the terrorists on the defensive, yielded significant intelligence on our enemies, and turned Iraq around from the direction it was headed. We will succeed in Iraq if we don't lose our resolve. We must not succumb to the calls of some for retreat. We will not surrender, our enemies will."

Michigan is Next

John is in South Carolina right now, prepping for the Fox News Debate. He will campaign in South Carolina tomorrow as well, but on Tuesday he is heading back to Michigan in preparation for the Primary there on the 15th.


Here is the RCP average for Michigan.

I will throw in South Carolina as well.

Reaction to John's Victory in New Hampshire

USA Today is writing that John McCain is "Back on Track."

McCain won New Hampshire by reviving echoes of his 2000 campaign with a "Mac is back" tour aboard the "Straight Talk Express" campaign bus and more than 100 town hall meetings that often featured colorful exchanges. When an undecided voter told him over the weekend he was in political "purgatory," McCain said: "It's a step up from where I was last summer."

The Arizonan again sought support from political independents who are eligible to vote in either primary in New Hampshire.

In this campaign, however, McCain spent more time discussing his experiences as a Vietnam prisoner of war. He also emphasized his Senate work on national security issues, particularly the Iraq war. He voiced support for last year's troop increase in Iraq, and took credit for influencing that strategy.

The Wall Street writes about "McCain's Mojo."

The race now heads to Michigan next week, where independents can also vote and where Mr. McCain prevailed in 2000. Mr. Romney signaled that he'll also fight in a state where his father was once Governor, offering his latest retooled theme that he's the Republican Obama, the best man to "change" Washington.

While making that case this week, however, he also made the same mistake he did in Iowa, assuming that immigration was the kill shot against his opponents. Yet the smooth businessman never seemed natural impersonating Tom Tancredo. Mr. Romney is now portraying Mr. McCain, a four-term Senator, as an "insider." But this may also be a tough sell considering Mr. McCain's status as an outside insider, someone who has never been part of the Senate club.

Mr. McCain's opportunity -- and challenge -- is to show that he is now the best candidate to unite the anxious and fractious wings of the Republican coalition. With Rudy Giuliani suspect among cultural conservatives, and Mike Huckabee trashing Wall Street and corporations, Mr. McCain is now the candidate best positioned to appeal to all Republican voters.

Ana Marie Cox writes in Time about Making McCain's Momentum Count for More.

But it's worth remembering that the arguments of consultants have a half-life shorter than a gnat in this race. McCain's campaign in New Hampshire is itself evidence of the unpredictability of this election. (Romney outspent McCain by a margin of at least four to one here, for one thing.) In the hours before results started to come in, top McCain aides were still unsure if they would even win.

As for McCain himself, he wisely does not try to explain his victory in linear narratives. The morning of the primary, wearing the same green sweater and staying in the same room as in 2000, he explained his own strategy for the day: "There is no superstition I won't indulge," he said. "I believe in luck."

Lastly, the Boston Herald discusses the important of New Hampshire's Picks.

There is something more than sweet about last night's solid victory for Sen. John McCain over former Gov. Mitt Romney. And it's not just about the Mac-is-back aspect of this incredible political season.

No, it's yet another lesson from yet another state that money can't buy voters' loyalty and negative doesn't work - not when people get an up-close and personal look at the candidates as they do in the Granite State.

The focus-driven politics of the Romney campaign were in the end no match for McCain's Straight Talk Express - dusted off from his 2000 New Hampshire victory and still a symbol of all that is right with the McCain campaign.

Thoughts on Yesterday

I have had the time to do some thinking on yesterday's primary election in New Hampshire. It really was a surprising election. The Democratic race was much tighter than I expected, and Hillary's win certainly was a shock to pretty much everyone, me included. For the Republican side, John's victory margin was larger than I feared it would be, he and the New Hampshire team really pulled it off there.

For the Democrats, it looks like they are in for a serious race. This is good for the GOP, as it means more money is going to be spent on the primaries that could be spent in the general election. Also, with luck the fight between Hillary and Barack will be nasty enough that it will sap support for the nominee when the general election comes around.

Once again, Mitt Romney has proven you can't buy the Presidency. His loss can be hinged, once again, on his lack of authenticity, a trait that would almost certain guarantee a GOP loss in November, especially against Barack Obama. There is also that aspect of his that Mike Huckabee has pointed out: he seems too much like the guy who would fire you, not the guy you would share a beer with at the bar watching the game. Its not just a matter of likability; Mitt isn't able to convince voters that he understands their situation and can relate to it. This crucial flaw can't be overcome with any amount of money. Mitt might be able to win Michigan, his family has considerable ties there. But I don't see him surging to the lead. He had counted on the double win of Iowa and New Hampshire to give him a huge amount of momentum and front-runner status. That almost was the case for Barack Obama, and it certainly wasn't the case for Mitt. If Mitt does make a comeback, I don't see him as being able to dominate his way to a majority. That means a brokered convention. Which is still a possibility, either way.

John McCain on his Comeback Victory

Here are John's full words:

Thank you.

My friends, I am past the age when I can claim the noun, "kid," no matter what adjective precedes it. But tonight we sure showed them what a comeback looks like. When the pundits declared us finished, I told them, "I'm going to New Hampshire, where the voters don't let you make their decision for them." And when they asked, "how are you going to do it? You're down in the polls. You don't have the money." I answered, "I'm going to New Hampshire, and I'm going to tell people the truth."

We came back here to this wonderful state we've come to trust and love. And we had just one strategy: to tell you what I believe. I didn't just tell you what the polls said you wanted to hear. I didn't tell you what I knew to be false. I didn't try to spin you. I just talked to the people of New Hampshire. I talked about the country we love; the many challenges we face together; and the great promise that is ours to achieve; the work that awaits us in this hour, on our watch: to defend our country from its enemies; to advance the ideals that are our greatest strength; to increase the prosperity and opportunities of all Americans and to make in our time, as each preceding American generation has, another, better world than the one we inherited.

I talked to the people of New Hampshire. I reasoned with you. I listened to you. I answered you. Sometimes, I argued with you. But I always told you the truth, as best as I can see the truth. And you did me the great honor of listening. Thank you, New Hampshire, from the bottom my heart. I am grateful and humbled and more certain than ever that before I can win your vote, I must win your respect. And I must do that by being honest with you, and then put my trust in your fairness and good judgment.

Tonight, we have taken a step, but only the first step toward repairing the broken politics of the past and restoring the trust of the American people in their government. The people of New Hampshire have told us again that they do not send us to Washington to serve our self-interest, but to serve theirs. They don't send us to fight each other for our own political ambitions; but to fight together our real enemies. They don't send us to Washington to stroke our egos; but to help them keep this beautiful, bountiful, blessed country safe, prosperous and proud. They don't send us to Washington to take more of their money, and waste it on things that add not an ounce to America's strength and prosperity; that don't help a single family realize the dreams we all dream for our children; that don't help a single displaced worker find a new job, and the security and dignity it assures them; that won't keep the promise we make to young workers that the retirement they have begun to invest in, will be there for them when they need it. They don't send us to Washington to do their job, but to do ours.

My friends, I didn't go to Washington to go along, to get along or to play it safe to serve my own interests. I went there to serve my country. And that, my friends, is just what I intend to do if I am so privileged to be elected your President.

I seek the nomination of a party that believes in the strength, industry, and goodness of the American people. We don't believe that government has all the answers, but that it should respect the rights, property and opportunities of the people to whom we are accountable. We don't believe in growing the size of government to make it easier to serve our own ambitions. But what government is expected to do, it must do with competence, resolve and wisdom. In recent years, we have lost the trust of the people, who share our principles, but doubt our own allegiance to them. I seek the nomination of our party to restore that trust; to return our party to the principles that have never failed Americans: The party of fiscal discipline, low taxes; enduring values; a strong and capable defense; that encourages the enterprise and ingenuity of individuals, businesses and families, who know best how to advance America's economy, and secure the dreams that have made us the greatest nation in history.

The work that we face in our time is great, but our opportunities greater still. In a time of war, and the terrible sacrifices it entails, the promise of a better future is not always clear. But I promise you, my friends, we face no enemy, no matter how cruel; and no challenge, no matter how daunting, greater than the courage, patriotism and determination of Americans. We are the makers of history, not its victims. And as we confront this enemy, the people privileged to serve in public office should not evade our mutual responsibility to defeat them because we are more concerned with personal or partisan ambition. Whatever the differences between us, so much more should unite us. And nothing should unite us more closely than the imperative of defeating an enemy who despises us, our values and modernity itself. We must all pull together in this critical hour and proclaim that the history of the world will not be determined by this unpardonable foe, but by the aspirations, ideals, faith and courage of free people. In this great, historic task, we will never surrender. They will.

The results of the other party's primary is uncertain at this time, but I want to congratulate all the campaigns in both parties. I salute the supporters of all the candidates who worked so hard to achieve a success tonight and who believe so passionately in the promise of their candidate. And I want to assure them that though I did not have their support, and though we may disagree from time to time on how best to advance America's interests and ideals, they have my genuine respect. For they have worked for a cause they believe is good for the country we all love, a cause greater than their self-interest.

I learned long ago that serving only oneself is a petty and unsatisfying ambition. But serve a cause greater than self-interest and you will know a happiness far more sublime than the fleeting pleasure of fame and fortune. For me that greater cause has always been my country, which I have served imperfectly for many years, but have loved without any reservation every day of my life. And however this campaign turns out -- and I am more confident tonight that it will turn out much better than once expected -- I am grateful beyond expression for the prospect that I might serve her a little while longer. That gratitude imposes on me the responsibility to do nothing in this campaign that would make our country's problems harder to solve or that would cause Americans to despair that a candidate for the highest office in the land would think so little of the honor that he would put his own interests before theirs. I take that responsibility as my most solemn trust.

So, my friends, we celebrate one victory tonight and leave for Michigan tomorrow to win another. But let us remember that our purpose is not ours alone; our success is not an end in itself. America is our cause -- yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Her greatness is our hope; her strength is our protection; her ideals our greatest treasure; her prosperity the promise we keep to our children; her goodness the hope of mankind. That is the cause of our campaign and the platform of my party, and I will stay true to it so help me God.

Thank you, New Hampshire. Thank you, my friends, and God bless you as you have blessed me. Enjoy this. You have earned it more than me. Tomorrow, we begin again.

Hillary's Victory in NH

I have to admit, I predicted that Obama would win. Now it seems Hillary pulled out a tight victory. The Democratic race, far from being almost over, appears to be destined to be a real fight.

The Mac is Back

John McCain has won the New Hampshire primary. Dismissed as dead months ago, John has proven once again that he is indeed the "Comeback Kid." The momentum is on John's side now. Keep it going by contributing to the campaign. Sign up to volunteer at the Campaign Website. Feb. 4th is only weeks away, we need to be ready for when it comes around.

New Hampshire Gets its Chance

Today is the long awaited New Hampshire Presidential Primary. Most polls show John McCain ahead, both in the support of Republicans and especially independents. John is very confident right now, and I feel reason to as well. The Romney camp has to express confidence, their plan all along was to win 2 out of the big 3 early primary/caucus states. Iowa was a loss, a loss in NH would be another huge setback to a candidate would has thrown money around like no one else on the GOP field.

Side Note: I am working on the speech I intend to give to the Cal Poly College Republicans tonight, I will post parts from it before-hand, giving some thoughts on why I support John McCain for President, among other things.

Tuesday's Events

Tomorrow is the New Hampshire Presidential Primary. So far nearly all the polls show John McCain ahead. His momentum in the state has been strong in the state, even before Mitt Romney lost in Iowa. So I don't think I am making a major prediction when I say that John will win the Republican primary, and Obama will win the Democratic primary. As for the margin of victory, I am guessing 3 to 5% for John, and maybe 7 to 10% for Obama.

Also, tomorrow I will be addressing the Cal Poly College Republicans at 7:00 PM at the McPhee University Union, room 216. I intend to explain why I support John McCain, and will also promote some ideas on how to help the GOP in the general election and beyond.

The Kemp Coup

Jack Kemp, former Congressman and Housing Secretary, has endorsed John McCain for President. Larry Kudlow, writing in the National Review's blog The Corner, says this is quite a coup for Senator McCain. Here is his full post:

Jack Kemp’s endorsement of Sen. John McCain for president is both interesting and significant. Kemp was one of the founders of the Reagan supply-side tax-cutting movement. And of course, he’s been a prominent free-market advocate for economic-growth policies for several decades.

I have not yet reached Jack for details of his thinking on the McCain endorsement.

The former-Buffalo, New York, House member/Housing secretary and 1996 GOP vice-presidential candidate would surely be able to relieve doubts about Sen. McCain’s tax-cutting intentions should he become president. While Sen. McCain has been criticized for voting against the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, it is important to recall that the Arizonan did vote for the Reagan tax cuts back in the 1980s.

McCain has steadfastly maintained on the campaign trail that he would preserve the Bush tax cuts on capital gains, dividends, and personal incomes that are set to expire in 2010.

Kemp would join former Sen. Phil Gramm as key McCain economic advisors. As I noted in an earlier post, Phil Gramm is the quintessential free-market advocate. He spent a career in the House and Senate limiting government spending, taxing, and regulating.

Both Kemp and Gramm are strong free-trade supporters. Gramm was also the original sponsor of the Reagan tax-and-spending cuts back in 1981 in the Gramm-Latta bill reported out of the House. That bill incorporated Jack Kemp’s original proposal to slash personal tax rates by 30 percent across the board.

Down through the years, Jack Kemp has been a tireless advocate of economic growth through supply-side tax reform and free trade. Getting him on board is a real coup for Sen. McCain.

This is indeed quite an endorsement. While John has drawn a lot of criticism from Republicans on issues like Campaign Finance Reform and Immigration, a number have also attacked his stance on economic issues like taxes. This should go a long way to show that John McCain is indeed a strident fiscal conservative. He is for government solvency as well as tax cuts, which is not something that can be said for many conservatives. He is also consistently the biggest defender of free trade among all the contenders for the nomination this year.

Also, in further endorsement news the Detroit Free Press has endorsed Senator McCain for the Republican nomination. A short excerpt:

Eight years ago, endorsing U.S. Sen. John McCain in the Michigan Republican presidential primary, the Free Press said he was "an articulate hardliner on how the United States should lead the world" and the best candidate in a GOP field that included George W. Bush. McCain won Michigan, but that proved to be the high-water mark of a campaign that collapsed shortly thereafter, outspent and outmaneuvered by the Bush forces. Eight years later, he is running again, and JOHN McCAIN is, again, the best candidate to carry the GOP banner into the fall. While the Free Press differs with McCain on a number of issues, the Arizona senator is a smarter, more tested and pragmatic leader who has shown since 2000 that he knows how to build bipartisan alliances around issues. He's a straight shooter, sometimes to his detriment in the political world, where McCain also loses points for persistently championing needed campaign reforms and criticizing pork-barrel spending that benefits special interests. McCain's latest campaign faltered early in this overextended election season. But he has regrouped, and while polls do not show him as the GOP front-runner, they do consistently show that he fares best against any of the leading Democrats. That has to be a consideration for Republican voters with the party expected to lose more ground in Congress next year. McCain, with his appeal to independent voters, looks at this time like the best bet to keep the White House in GOP hands.

The full endorsement can be read here.