John McCain presidential campaign, 2008

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Senator John McCain announced that he is seeking the 2008 Presidential nomination from the Republican Party on the Wednesday, February 28, 2007, telecast of the Late Show With David Letterman. A formal announcement is expected in April.^[1]

Contents 1 Campaign development 2 Endorsements 2.1 U.S. Senators 2.2 U.S. House members 2.3 Governors 2.4 Other well-known figures 3 Opposing forces 4 Iraq War 5 References

[edit] Campaign development

McCain began the race as the presumptive frontrunner, based on his longevity in the party and his previous race in 2000. However, after his announcement on the Late Show with David Letterman on February 28, 2007, McCain was beginning to trail behind former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in the polls. Later that month, with considerable press attention and in hopes of reigniting his efforts, McCain brought back the "Straight Talk Express" campaign bus that he had used successfully in his outsider run in 2000.^[2]

[edit] Endorsements

The following members of Congress endorsed McCain's candidacy; the latter list consists of Governors endorsing McCain. (List will be updated, as time progresses)

[edit] U.S. Senators

• Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC)^[3]
• Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)^[4], Ranking Member of United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
• Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)^[4]
• Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS)^[4], Former Senate Majority Leader, Current Senate Minority Whip
• Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
• Sen. John Warner (R-VA)^[4], Former Chairman of United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
• Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR)^[4], Ranking Member of United States Senate Special Committee on Aging
• Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)^[4], Ranking Member of United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

[edit] U.S. House members

• Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL)^[4]
• Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)^[4]
• Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL)^[4]
• Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)^[4]
• Rep. Ric Keller (R-FL)^[4]
• Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL)^[4]
• Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)
• Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL)^[4]
• Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH)^[4]
• Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA)^[4]
• Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS)^[4]
• Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)^[4], Ranking Member of United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ)^[4]
• Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ)^[4]
• Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT)^[4]
• Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL)^[4]
• Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI)^[4]

[edit] Governors

• Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. (R-UT)^[4]
• Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)^[4], Vice-Chairman of National Governors Association
  • An early supporter of Sen. McCain, Pawlenty is a Co-Chair of "McCain for President". Pawlenty is considered a leading candidate for the position of the Vice-Presidency if McCain wins the nomination.
• Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R-PA)^[4], first Secretary of Homeland Security

[edit] Other well-known figures

• Henry Kissinger^[4], Former National Security Adviser and United States Secretary of State under President Richard Nixon and President Gerald Ford.

[edit] Opposing forces

Some parts of the conservative movement have cited McCain's unreliable past as their primary motive for opposing McCain's candidacy. Others have also noted that McCain's past actions have hindered the progress of right-wing supporters, citing the Campaign Finance Reform, which McCain co-authored with liberal Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI).

• Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)
  • Even though McCain campaigned heavily for Santorum in 2006, Santorum was soundly defeated in the 2006 Mid-Term elections by Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA) by a landslide. Santorum noted that McCain is not only erratic in his positions, but does not serve the best interests of the conservative brethren.
• Club for Growth, an influential conservative group led by fomer Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA)
  • This organization led by fierce conservatives are determined to bring down McCain's candidacy, citing his "maverick" status and his comments about James Dobson and Rev. Jerry Falwell in 2000, where McCain called them "agents of intolerance". The group also cites McCain's opposition to the Bush tax cuts in 2001 as a primary example of discrepancy in McCain's conservative self-stature.
• Dr. James Dobson, leader of the Focus on the Family,
  • Dobson has criticized McCain's opposition to passing a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. Dobson also cites McCain's "moderate" pro-family positions, noting that a Republican nominee must represent the true nature of the entire party, dominated by conservatives.

[edit] Iraq War

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.^[5]

[edit] References

1. ^ "McCain announces '08 bid on Letterman", CNN, 2007-3-1. Retrieved on March 18, 2007.
2. ^ Tapper, Jake. "Bringing Back the Bus", ABC News, 2007-3-15. Retrieved on March 18, 2007.
3. ^ Baker, Mike. "Sen. Richard Burr will support McCain for president", Associated Press, 2007-3-9. Retrieved on March 18, 2007.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z} "Political figures who have endorsed McCain", The Arizona Republic, 2007-3-12. Retrieved on March 18, 2007.
5. ^ Balz, Dan & Shailagh Murray (January 13, 2007), "The War Within Sen. McCain", Washington Post: A01

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