McCain: What, Me Worry?

ABC’s Jake Whitman Reports:  Sen. John McCain, R-AZ, was on Rudolph Giuliani’s home turf last night for a fundraiser in Manhattan.  The Republican presidential hopeful brushed off questions about Giuliani’s lead in the polls.

"This is early in the campaign," McCain told reporters. "We’ve got a lot of work to do. We are doing very well in the early primary states. This campaign … is still in spring training. The results will be based on record and vision and a lot of that will come out in the debates and the forthcoming campaign. We are very happy where we are."

McCain had nothing but praise for Giuliani, who has leaped ahead of him in the latest polls, one showing a 25 point lead by the former New York mayor.

"He’s an American hero and I can certainly understand why people would admire him very much," McCain said.

But while talking to reporters, McCain clearly wanted to change the subject. 

"I’m not here to try to tout Mayor Giuliani for President of the United States, but having said that, he understands law and order," McCain said. "He worked in the Justice Department. He has many qualifications that I think are impressive, but I’d like to stop touting his candidacy."