But we've always had a cordial and respectful relationship. And I'll do everything I can to maintain that during this campaign. Americans are tired of the partisanship or the fighting of the -- impugning of character.
They want a real debate here, and that's why I challenged him -- or invited him, is a better word -- for us to do a series of 10 town hall meetings across this country, one a week between now and the Democratic convention. And let's start next week at Federal Hall in New York.
And, you know, I think the town hall meeting is the essence of democracy. Why not let people come and ask us both questions? I think that's what it's about. I think, from my own experience, that town hall meetings are more beneficial both to the candidate, as well as the voter.
GIBSON: Senator Obama, when we talked to him yesterday, said he was going to accept. He said, "Senator McCain has generously offered to me to start next week." He said, "I just got the nomination, and I think that's a little premature," but indicated that he was certainly interested in doing some of those.
It sounds to me like you both, actually, in these town meetings think that you've got the other guy on your turf.
MCCAIN: I'm not so sure I think that. I think one of the great regrets of the tragedy in Dallas was the campaign that we missed between Senator Barry Goldwater, my predecessor, and President Jack Kennedy.
They had agreed -- they agreed, because they knew each other well from their days in the Senate, that they would travel around the country on the same plane and go to a town, and have debate and discussion, and town hall meetings, and then go to another one.
I think America missed a rare opportunity at that time. Look at what campaigns have deteriorated into, and I mean deteriorated: sound bites, gotchas, attack ads, 527s.
So I think this may be trying to revive what I think most Americans would have approved of way back in the 1960s and they certainly want today.
GIBSON: On what three issues, principal issues, do you think this election will turn?
MCCAIN: Reform, prosperity and peace. Reform of government in the way we do business, which is geared to the '60s and '70s and not responsive to the new challenges.
Prosperity, obviously, Americans are hurting badly, keeping their homes, the job loss. The continued deterioration of certain -- a lot of aspects of our economy.
And, of course, security. I believe that the war in Iraq has far more effects than just Iraq. I think it is the central battleground of the struggle against radical Islamic extremism, as General David Petraeus portrayed it.
And I think that our treatment of Iran, the conflict in Afghanistan, the entire globe now is beset with challenges to our nation's security. And I think that, also, will be a very big issue.
And I will be compared -- glad to compare my vision and my view of how we secure this nation's future with that of Senator Obama. I think he was wrong about the surge when he said it would fail, and I think he's been wrong on other aspects of national security issues, and a lot of that is due to inexperience.
GIBSON: Do you worry that it might turn on race and age?
MCCAIN: I hope neither. Look, I believe in the decency and fairness of the American people. If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't be seeking to lead them. I think they're the finest, fairest, most decent people in the world.
And, of course, we have extremes in our society that do things which are not in keeping with the principles and, frankly, the greatness of this nation. But, overall, a vast majority of Americans are fair, decent people, and they're going to judge who they want to lead on the basis of how they think that person can lead.
GIBSON: Senator Obama, during the primary campaign, has felt the need to address the issue of race. Do you have to address it, do you think, in your campaign in any way?
MCCAIN: I don't think I have to address the issue of race. I have tried to on various venues address the issue of age. You know, on "Saturday Night Live," when I said the person -- the primary qualification for president has to be someone who's very, very, very old.
But I think, as in the primary, the voters will judge me by the way I campaign and what my vision is and what they view my vitality and strengths are. And that's where I think that I can convince them, that not only do I have the age, but I have the experience and knowledge to make the kinds of judgments that are necessary to keep the nation safe and prosperous.
GIBSON: Are you the underdog?
MCCAIN: Oh, yes, I think so. I think so. I think -- I'm surprised, frankly, to see the polls as close as they are, given our brand problems in the Republican Party. I'm pleased where we are.
But I also think that, not unlike the primaries, that Americans pay attention, but, really, when they start to pay attention is really during the convention and sort of during what has traditionally been the campaign season, after Labor Day.
GIBSON: What's the biggest obstacle that you face to getting elected?
MCCAIN: I think energizing independents and the Reagan Democrats, both old and new, to have a look and see if they can understand that I'm the best qualified to serve.
I think that that's -- we're going to be in kind of a presidential campaign where the independents, Reagan Democrats, would be the reason why I win.
I think we have unified the party pretty well, but I've got to assure everyone that I'm going to be the president of all Americans. That's what they have to have confidence in; that's what they want now.
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