Broadway Mac Predicts South Carolina Win
EmailABC News’ Bret Hovell Reports: Senator John McCain predicted he would win the South Carolina primary Wednesday, as he brushed off his nine point loss in Michigan to former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
"I’ll win. I’ll win here in South Carolina. And that’s all there is to it," McCain told reporters after a town hall meeting in Spartenburg. "I feel we have sufficient strength throughout the state and we’ll be working hard on a very big get out the vote effort, which we, frankly, did not have the ability to do back in Michigan."
McCain explained Romney’s win in the Michigan by calling him a "native son," repeating a line McCain’s advisers have been using since it became clear Romney would defeat McCain on Tuesday evening.
Romney was born in Michigan but has not lived there in decades.
"I thought we would do better there, we didn’t," McCain said. "But I didn’t predict victory. I’m saying we will win South Carolina."
McCain said his campaign would not be doomed by a runner-up finish in the state, which holds its Republican primary on Saturday. But a loss here would deal a blow to his campaign and halt the momentum he has been riding since winning New Hampshire’s primary earlier in the month.
South Carolina, with its large veteran population, could be fertile ground for McCain, who has made the victory in Iraq and the war against terrorism a centerpiece of his campaign.
But rival Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister and the former Arkansas governor, is also polling well in the state, which has a large number of evangelical voters who have not warmed easily to McCain during his current campaign or in his failed 2000 bid.
At two separate events Tuesday, McCain dedicated a significant portion of his stump speech to his social conservative bona fides, including comparing his record on human rights to his pro-life stance.
"I believe those human rights extend to those who are unborn," McCain said. "And you can count on me to continue my advocacy for the rights of the unborn."
McCain also received the endorsement of Senator Tom Coburn, R-Okla., a social conservative and budget hawk, known for his dislike of so-called government "pork".
McCain explained his focus on abortion in the events as a response to push polls that he said are misinforming voters of his positions.
"We know that phone calls are being made and they say I’m not pro-life, so I just have to remind people of my 24 years, my voting record and commitment to the unborn," McCain explained.
When he was asked if he thought rival campaigns were responsible for the push polling, McCain responded facetiously.
"No, I think they came from Mount Olympus," he said.
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Mc, Fred and Mike said the same thing, are we going to have 3 GOP winners in SC?
Posted by: KMCamara | January 16, 2008, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
I hope Senator McCain wins in South Carolina.It is one of the most important primaries in the nation.Senator McCain’s pro-life values and military service should earn him many votes there.
Posted by: Shawn M. Hussey | January 16, 2008, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm
I hope McCain runs out of money and doesn’t win anything with his partner Lieberman. Two has-beens who should get out of politics and leave us better off.
Posted by: Vicki | January 16, 2008, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm
McCain married money, Huckabee preaches for money and Mitt makes money and helps others do the same. He is exactly what will help this country!!!
Posted by: Go Romney!!! | January 17, 2008, 1:06 am 1:06 am
I respect John McCain for his service to our country, however he is NOT the strong tiger on national security everyone thinks he is. I mean the man would not even consider water-boarding a terrorist to get info that could save countless American lives; a terrorist now, not a uniformed soldier fighting in a specific country’s army. His argument against it is if we did, then the enemy would start torturing our soldiers. Start? John, wake up from your nap pal. Our enemies are already cutting heads off, hanging and burning bodies, dragging them behind vehicles, and God knows what else. Look at all the torture rooms found. Surely he knows this is going on, so what is really the true story on his position?
When it comes to illegal immigration, all you can say is his true stances and past history in dealing with this issue is dismal.
Taxes? I know he was against Bush’s tax cuts which put money back into my pocket along with millions of others, as well as bolstered the economy.
Well, then you’ve got Huckabee with his record on illegal immigration, higher taxes and bigger government, and belief that our foreign policy is arrogant instead of necessary. Plus now he’s been bragging in Michigan about his close ties to the unions. It does all kinda sound like something a democrat would campaign on; or was he just doing it in Michigan?
Romney has some good stances, but some of them seem to contrast with his past history; kinda makes me uncomfortable; political expediency once again?
If Guiliani gets the nod, you’d better hide your guns!
Ron Paul is an isolationist; doesn’t work in this day and age.
You know, I have to put my trust for the future of our national security in a man who speaks with substance, who stands on his principles, who looks you in the eye and tells you straightforward what’s on his mind. Fred Thompson is this man. He’s well thought out, a great communicator, and rock solid on his principles.
Posted by: charles purvis | January 17, 2008, 10:53 am 10:53 am
Senator McCain is a war hero, and the most experienced on most of the subjects he should win in SC.
Posted by: VoteMcCain_in08 | January 17, 2008, 11:36 am 11:36 am
Keating Five!!! John McCain took bribes to help pass legislation and got caught! He should have been expelled from the U.S. Senate then. He is a crook and doesn’t deserve one vote. Throw the bum out!
Posted by: No to Dems in 2008 | January 17, 2008, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
McCain is penny-wise, pound-foolish. Sure, he may save a few billion cutting pork, but will gladly squeeze the taxpayers for a TRILLION or more to create havoc and kill in the middle east. Most people see through you John.
Posted by: McCain for Dog Catcher | January 17, 2008, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
To charles purvis:
McCain did not say that we should not waterboard terrorists because then they would do the same to us.
McCain said that we should not resort to waterboarding or any sort of torture since it is a violation of human rights, constitutes cruel and unusual punishment (specifically forbidden by the Constitution), and that we would lose any moral standing we have in the world. We are fighting a war for hearts and minds as well.
Furthermore, it is McCain’s principled stand on these issues that has made me, a staunch East Coast liberal, come out in support of him, despite the fact that I am for gay marriage and pro-choice and McCain is against gay marriage and anti-choice. I respect McCain’s principles and straight-talk that much. McCain takes the political center of this country.
After eight years of George Bush hyper-partisanship, we need to unite again, and McCain does that. You go with McCain as your nominee and he’ll win the general election because he’ll win the center.
Posted by: Vivek | January 17, 2008, 9:55 pm 9:55 pm