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  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-04-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/395c1f29-194b-47c3-b0ad-4aaf74e13285.htm" rowid="32319784" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            &amp;quot;Call To Action&amp;quot; On Health Care Reform
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;A &amp;quot;Call To Action&amp;quot;:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Today, In Florida, John McCain Outlined His Plan For Health Care Reform. John McCain believes we can and must provide access to health care for every American. He has proposed a comprehensive vision for achieving that. For too long, our nation&amp;#39;s leaders have talked about reforming health care. Now is the time to act.&lt;/p&gt;

Americans Are Worried About Health Care Costs. The problems with health care are well known: it is too expensive and 47 million people living in the United States lack health insurance. 
&lt;p&gt;John McCain&amp;#39;s Vision For Health Care Reform:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Believes The Key To Health Care Reform Is To Restore Control To The Patients Themselves. We want a system of health care in which everyone can afford and acquire the treatment and preventative care they need. Health care should be available to all and not limited by where you work or how much you make. Families should be in charge of their health care dollars and have more control over care. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A Specific Plan Of Action: Making Health Insurance Innovative, Portable And Affordable:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Will Reform Health Care Making It Easier For Individuals And Families To Obtain Insurance. An important part of his plan is to use competition to improve the quality of health insurance with greater variety to match people&amp;#39;s needs, lower prices, and portability. Families should be able to purchase health insurance nationwide, across state lines.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Will Reform The Tax Code To Offer More Choices Beyond Employer-Based Health Insurance Coverage. While still having the option of employer-based coverage, every family will also have the option of receiving a direct refundable tax credit&amp;nbsp;-- effectively cash&amp;nbsp;-- of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families to offset the cost of insurance. Families will be able to choose the insurance provider that suits them best and the money would be sent directly to the insurance provider. Those obtaining innovative insurance that costs less than the credit can deposit the remainder in expanded Health Savings Accounts. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Proposes Making Insurance More Portable. Americans need insurance that follows them from job to job. They want insurance that is still there if they retire early and does not change if they take a few years off to raise the kids.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Will Encourage And Expand The Benefits Of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) For Families. When families are informed about medical choices, they are more capable of making their own decisions and often decide against unnecessary options. Health Savings Accounts take an important step in the direction of putting families in charge of what they pay for.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A Specific Plan Of Action: Ensuring Care For Higher Risk Patients:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain&amp;#39;s Plan Cares For The Traditionally Uninsurable. John McCain understands that those without prior group coverage and those with pre-existing conditions have the most difficulty on the individual market, and we need to make sure they get the high-quality coverage they need.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Will Work With States To Establish A Guaranteed Access Plan. As President, John McCain will work with governors to develop a best practice model that states can follow&amp;nbsp;-- a Guaranteed Access Plan or GAP&amp;nbsp;-- that would reflect the best experience of the states to ensure these patients have access to health coverage. One approach would establish a nonprofit corporation that would contract with insurers to cover patients who have been denied insurance and could join with other state plans to enlarge pools and lower overhead costs. There would be reasonable limits on premiums, and assistance would be available for Americans below a certain income level.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Will Promote Proper Incentives. John McCain will work with Congress, the governors, and industry to make sure this approach is funded adequately and has the right incentives to reduce costs such as disease management, individual case management, and health and wellness programs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A Specific Plan Of Action: Lowering Health Care Costs:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Proposes A Number Of Initiatives That Can Lower Health Care Costs. If we act today, we can lower health care costs for families through common-sense initiatives. Within a decade, health spending will comprise twenty percent of our economy. This is taking an increasing toll on America&amp;#39;s families and small businesses. Even Senators Clinton and Obama recognize the pressure skyrocketing health costs place on small business when they exempt small businesses from their employer mandate plans. &lt;/p&gt;

CHEAPER DRUGS: Lowering Drug Prices. John McCain will look to bring greater competition to our drug markets through safe re-importation of drugs and faster introduction of generic drugs. 
CHRONIC DISEASE: Providing Quality, Cheaper Care For Chronic Disease. Chronic conditions account for three-quarters of the nation&amp;#39;s annual health care bill. By emphasizing prevention, early intervention, healthy habits, new treatment models, new public health infrastructure and the use of information technology, we can reduce health care costs. We should dedicate more federal research to caring and curing chronic disease.
COORDINATED CARE: Promoting Coordinated Care. Coordinated care&amp;nbsp;-- with providers collaborating to produce the best health care&amp;nbsp;-- offers better outcomes at lower cost. We should pay a single bill for high-quality disease care which will make every single provider accountable and responsive to the patients&amp;#39; needs.
GREATER ACCESS AND CONVENIENCE: Expanding Access To Health Care. Families place a high value on quickly getting simple care. Government should promote greater access through walk-in clinics in retail outlets.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Greater Use Of Information Technology To Reduce Costs. We should promote the rapid deployment of 21st century information systems and technology that allows doctors to practice across state lines.
MEDICAID AND MEDICARE: Reforming The Payment System To Cut Costs. We must reform the payment systems in Medicaid and Medicare to compensate providers for diagnosis, prevention and care coordination. Medicaid and Medicare should not pay for preventable medical errors or mismanagement. 
SMOKING: Promoting The Availability Of Smoking Cessation Programs. Most smokers would love to quit but find it hard to do so. Working with business and insurance companies to promote availability, we can improve lives and reduce chronic disease through smoking cessation programs. 
STATE FLEXIBILITY: Encouraging States To Lower Costs. States should have the flexibility to experiment with alternative forms of access, coordinated payments per episode covered under Medicaid, use of private insurance in Medicaid, alternative insurance policies and different licensing schemes for providers.
TORT REFORM: Passing Medical Liability Reform. We must pass medical liability reform that eliminates lawsuits directed at doctors who follow clinical guidelines and adhere to safety protocols. Every patient should have access to legal remedies in cases of bad medical practice but that should not be an invitation to endless, frivolous lawsuits. 
TRANSPARENCY: Bringing Transparency To Health Care Costs. We must make public more information on treatment options and doctor records, and require transparency regarding medical outcomes, quality of care, costs and prices. We must also facilitate the development of national standards for measuring and recording treatments and outcomes.
&lt;p&gt;Confronting The Long-Term Care Challenge: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Will Develop A Strategy For Meeting The Challenge Of A Population Needing Greater Long-Term Care. There have been a variety of state-based experiments such as Cash and Counseling or The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) that are pioneering approaches for delivering care to people in a home setting. Seniors are given a monthly stipend which they can use to: hire workers and purchase care-related services and goods. They can get help managing their care by designating representatives, such as relatives or friends, to help make decisions. It also offers counseling and bookkeeping services to assist consumers in handling their programmatic responsibilities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Setting The Record Straight: Covering Those With Pre-Existing Conditions:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MYTH: Some Claim That Under John McCain&amp;#39;s Plan, Those With Pre-Existing Conditions Would Be Denied Insurance. &lt;/p&gt;

FACT: John McCain Supported The Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act In 1996 That Took The Important Step Of Providing Some Protection Against Exclusion Of Pre-Existing Conditions. 
FACT: Nothing In John McCain&amp;#39;s Plan Changes The Fact That If You Are Employed And Insured You Will Build Protection Against The Cost Of Any Pre-Existing Condition. 
FACT: As President, John McCain Would Work With Governors To Find The Solutions Necessary To Ensure Those With Pre-Existing Conditions Are Able To Easily Access Care. 
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            " title="&quot;Call To Action&quot; On Health Care Reform" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-04-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/f96d220f-b10d-48fe-aee9-d69c0d2802c3.htm" rowid="32320671" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            &amp;quot;Cherish The Sanctity Of Life:&amp;quot; Statement By Senator McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today released the following statement:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Today&amp;#39;s Supreme Court ruling is a victory for those who cherish the sanctity of life and integrity of the judiciary.&amp;nbsp; The ruling ensures that an unacceptable and unjustifiable practice will not be carried out on our innocent children.&amp;nbsp; It also clearly speaks to the importance of nominating and confirming strict constructionist judges who interpret the law as it is written, and do not usurp the authority of Congress and state legislatures.&amp;nbsp; As we move forward, it is critically important that our party continues to stand on the side of life.&amp;quot;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
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  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/ab2f4435-8f7f-4193-90b6-f7a923b85470.htm" rowid="32320067" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            &amp;quot;Newsday Endorses McCain In New York Primary&amp;quot;
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;Newsday Endorses McCain In New York Primary&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;EditorialNewsdayFebruary 3, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In a Republican roster of mainly lackluster, marginal or unacceptable presidential candidates, Sen. John McCain of Arizona always stood out like a bright light in a dim room. Now that he has risen quickly from the back of the pack to pose a serious challenge to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, McCain is by far the best choice for his party&amp;#39;s nomination. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain is an honorable man. And his courage, integrity and willingness to take principled and consistent stands on key issues unpopular with his party are admirable traits. He is, in short, a stand-up guy. He should make Republicans proud to choose him as their standard-bearer. He has the guts to vote on his conscience, to ignore opinion polls and do what he thinks is right. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain has championed effective campaign finance reform, working closely with Democratic allies to push through landmark legislation. Alone among leading Republicans, he has recognized the dangers posed by climate change and has been a strong early advocate for curbs on global warming, sponsoring bipartisan legislation mandating market-based solutions. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At the risk of alienating most of his party&amp;#39;s leaders, he has been a staunch supporter of rational changes in immigration laws to allow the normalization of undocumented workers in American society. This issue alone has turned the conservative movement against him. Right-wing radio talk show hosts attack him with vile language, almost to demonize him for acting on his principles. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As a genuine war hero who endured torture in a North Vietnamese prison camp, McCain has used his experience to condemn the Bush administration&amp;#39;s approval of the use of torture against detainees in the war on terrorism. He has made his crusade against torture a point of honor that hasn&amp;#39;t endeared him to many of his Republican colleagues. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But he is hardly an anti-war advocate. He doesn&amp;#39;t back away from his early and steady support for the Iraq war, but he has also been one of the fiercest critics of the way the Bush administration has waged it, ripping the national security team for its strategic mistakes in the early stages of the occupation. He argues, sensibly, that a premature withdrawal of U.S. troops would endanger the stability of the region and doom Iraq to endless civil disorder. ...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At age 71, McCain has said himself that he can&amp;#39;t very well be called a comeback kid. And his age - he could be the oldest U.S. president ever to take office - may worry some. But his positive qualities overall outweigh his weaknesses. Newsday endorses him for the Republican nomination.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The Entire Newsday Editorial: &amp;quot;Newsday Endorses McCain In New York Primary&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="&quot;Newsday Endorses McCain In New York Primary&quot;" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-08-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/2e4d3703-851b-46b3-abbf-2fe38cdce592.htm" rowid="32320576" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            &amp;quot;On the Campaign Trail&amp;quot; With John McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;John McCain Is Steadfast In His Commitment To Victory In Iraq And Winning The Battle Against Islamic Extremists Across The Globe &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain: &amp;quot;We are going to have a very seminal moment in the United States Senate when we decide whether we are going to let General Petraeus and the strategy continue to win or are we going to set a date for surrender Tough decisions have to be made. I understand how unpopular the war is and I understand the feeling the people in New Hampshire and around the country, their frustration and their sorrow at the sacrifice that&amp;#39;s been made. But I believe we have to do what is right for the future not only for present day Americans but future generations.&amp;quot; (WKXL 1450, &amp;quot;On the Campaign Trail,&amp;quot; 8/11/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Is Committed To Upholding Private Property Rights&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain: &amp;quot;It was one of the most outrageous decisions in the United States Supreme Court has ever given where basically you are giving local governments the right to take people&amp;#39;s property on the rationale that it will mean more revenue that&amp;#39;s a fundamental violation of the principles upon which of nation was founded, which is respect for private property rights. But I intend to do whatever is necessary legislatively in order to repeal that issue. There are other states, such as Iowa, who also did the same thing as New Hampshire, but if it&amp;#39;s required, and I hope it&amp;#39;s not, but if it is required to amend the Constitution of the United States, I would do so, I feel that strongly about this issue.&amp;quot; (WKXL 1450, &amp;quot;On the Campaign Trail,&amp;quot; 8/11/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Will Pursue Reforms That Broaden Access To Quality Health Care At Lower Costs&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain: &amp;quot;First of all I reject the single pair big government solution that is being proposed by the Democrats, by the way along with tax increases, I reject that, I&amp;#39;ve seen that movie before and just take a trip to Canada if you think that&amp;#39;s a system that would maintain the quality health care in America. We need to maintain the quality of the best healthcare, medical care in the world and it is in the United States of America and we need to make it affordable and available. We need to do a whole lot of things, including the tax dividends for low income Americans, including insurance companies rewarding wellness, including medical malpractice reform, including putting health care records online, including adding and encouraging health savings accounts, including allowing small businesses that join together and negotiate with health care providers. I could give you a very long list of additional measures that h ave to be taken in order to keep inflation down and keep health care affordable and available, not a single pair big government solution.&amp;quot; (WKXL 1450, &amp;quot;On the Campaign Trail,&amp;quot; 8/11/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of WKXL &amp;quot;On the Campaign Trail&amp;quot; with Senator John McCain.&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="&quot;On the Campaign Trail&quot; With John McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-09-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/15656ff8-71a6-4618-922a-9b4b0f9232ac.htm" rowid="32320563" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            &amp;quot;Proven National Security Experience&amp;quot; - Statement By Campaign Manager Rick Davis Following New Hampshire GOP Debate

                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- Rick Davis, John McCain 2008 Campaign Manager, issued the following statement on tonight&amp;#39;s Republican presidential debate: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;This evening, John McCain demonstrated why he is the only candidate with the proven national security experience vital to confronting the transcendent challenge facing our nation -- the struggle against radical Islamic extremism. McCain has demonstrated leadership and political courage by advocating an Iraq policy that would bring our troops home with honor -- by winning.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain presented an optimistic and realistic vision for America&amp;#39;s future and has a life-long record of working to resolve the challenges we face and restore American&amp;#39;s trust in their government. Beyond his broad national security and international expertise, on the domestic front John McCain has been a leader in the fight to cut unnecessary spending in Washington, DC, eliminating earmarks and exposing pork-barrel projects.&amp;nbsp; His exemplary record of service and sacrifice continues to stand out among all other candidates from either party, and is one of many reasons why he is uniquely qualified to lead as commander-in-chief from the moment he is elected.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="&quot;Proven National Security Experience&quot; - Statement By Campaign Manager Rick Davis Following New Hamps" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/03a077b1-8b16-4f88-9f9e-00ef44d79c53.htm" rowid="32319777" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            &amp;quot;The Right Rx&amp;quot;
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;I believe the key to real reform is to restore control over our health-care system to the patients themselves. To that end, my reforms are built on the pursuit of three goals: paying only for quality medical care, having insurance choices that are diverse and responsive to individual needs, and restoring our sense of personal responsibility.&amp;quot;&amp;nbsp;-- John McCain&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;The Right Rx&amp;quot;By Sen. John McCainNational ReviewMay 1, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;What exactly is the problem with the American health-care system? &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The problem is not that Americans don&amp;#39;t have fine doctors, medical technology, and treatments. American medicine is the envy of the world. The problem is not that most Americans lack adequate health insurance. The vast majority of Americans have private insurance, and our government spends many billions each year to provide even more. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The biggest problem with the American health-care system is one of cost and access, and as a result tens of millions of individuals have no insurance. For example, we currently spend for about 2.4 trillion dollars a year on health care. A decade from now that number, under current projections, will double to over four trillion dollars. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Obama and Clinton response to these problems is to promise universal coverage, whatever its cost, and the massive tax increases, mandates, and government regulation that it imposes. But in the end this will accomplish one thing only. We will replace the inefficiency, irrationality, and uncontrolled costs of the current system with the inefficiency, irrationality, and uncontrolled costs of a government monopoly. We&amp;#39;ll have all the problems, and more, of private health care&amp;nbsp;-- rigid rules, long waits, and lack of choices, and risk degrading its great strengths and advantages including the innovation and life-saving technology that make American medicine the most advanced in the world.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I have a different approach. I believe the key to real reform is to restore control over our health-care system to the patients themselves. To that end, my reforms are built on the pursuit of three goals: paying only for quality medical care, having insurance choices that are diverse and responsive to individual needs, and restoring our sense of personal responsibility. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;American families know quality when they see it, so their dollars should be in their hands. When families are informed about medical choices, they are more capable of making their own decisions, less likely to choose the most expensive and often unnecessary options, and are more satisfied with their choices. Health Savings Accounts are tax-preferred accounts used to pay insurance premiums and other health costs. They put the family in charge of what they pay for, and should be expanded and encouraged. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Americans also need new choices beyond those offered in employment-based coverage. They want a reformed system so that wherever you go and wherever you work, your health plan goes with you. And there is a very straightforward way to achieve this.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Under current law, the federal government gives a tax benefit when employers provide health-insurance coverage to American workers and their families. This benefit doesn&amp;#39;t cover the total cost of the health plan, and in reality each worker and family absorbs the rest of the cost in lower wages and diminished benefits. But it provides essential support for insurance coverage. Many workers are perfectly content with this arrangement, and under my reform plan they would be able to keep that coverage. Their employer-provided health plans would be largely untouched and unchanged. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But for every American who wanted it, another option would be available: Every year, they would receive a tax credit directly, with the same cash value of the credits for employees in big companies, in a small business, or self-employed. You simply choose the insurance provider that suits you best. By mail or online, you would then inform the government of your selection. And the money to help pay for your health care would be sent straight to that insurance provider. The health plan you chose would be as good as any that an employer could choose for you. And if a church or professional organization wishes to sponsor insurance for its members, they should be able to do so. The bottom line: Health insurance would be yours and your family&amp;#39;s health-care plan to keep without worrying that it will go away along with your job.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The value of that credit&amp;nbsp;-- 2,500 dollars for individuals, 5,000 dollars for families&amp;nbsp;-- would also be enhanced by the greater competition this reform would help create among insurance companies. Millions of Americans would be making their own health-care choices again. Insurance companies could no longer take your business for granted, offering narrow plans with escalating costs. It would help change the whole dynamic of the current system, putting individuals and families back in charge, and forcing companies to respond with better service at lower cost. Again, choice and competition are indispensible to real reform that brings costs down and broadens access while maintaining quality.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But we also need to ensure that those without prior group coverage and with preexisting conditions, who have the most difficulty in the individual market, have access to the high-quality coverage they need. As with other problems our nation has faced, states have taken the lead in experimenting with ways to cover the &amp;quot;uninsurables&amp;quot; and give us a window into what works and what doesn&amp;#39;t work. I will consult with the governors to solicit their ideas about a best practice model that states can follow&amp;nbsp;-- a Guaranteed Access Plan or GAP&amp;nbsp;-- and work with Congress, the governors, and industry to make sure that it is funded adequately and has the right incentives to reduce costs such as disease management, individual case management, and health and wellness programs. The details of a Guaranteed Access Plan would be worked out with the collaboration and consent of the states that wish to participate. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This cooperation among states in the purchase of insurance would also be a crucial step in ridding the market of both needless and costly regulations, and the dominance in the market of only a few insurance companies. Right now, there is a different health-insurance market for every state. Each one has its own rules and restrictions, and often guarantees inadequate competition among insurance companies. Often these circumstances prevent the best companies, with the best plans and lowest prices, from making their product available to any American who wants it. We need to break down these barriers to competition, innovation and excellence, with the goal of establishing a national market to make the best practices and lowest prices available to every person in every state. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Families also place a high value on quickly getting simple care, and have shown a willingness to pay cash to get it. If walk-in clinics in retail outlets are the most convenient, cost-effective way for families to safely meet simple needs, then no policies of government should stand in their way. And if the cheapest way to get high quality care is to use advances in web technology to allow a doctor to practice across state lines, then let them. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Effective reform must also deal with another source of needless cost and trouble in the health care system which comes from the trial bar. Every patient in America must have access to legal remedies in cases of bad medical practice. But this vital principle of law and medicine is not an invitation to endless, frivolous lawsuits from trial lawyers who exploit both patients and physicians alike. We must pass medical liability reform, and those reforms should eliminate lawsuits directed at doctors who follow clinical guidelines and adhere to patient safety protocols. If Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton are sincere in their conviction that health care coverage and quality is their first priority, then they will put the needs of patients before the demands of trial lawyers. They can&amp;#39;t have it both ways. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Finally, we must personally do everything we can to prevent expensive, chronic diseases. Our rights in this country are protected by our personal sense of responsibility for our own well being. Cases of diabetes are going up, not only in the baby-boom generation, but among younger Americans obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure are all on the rise. Parents must impart to their children a sense of personal responsibility for their health, nutrition, and exercise. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We can build a health care system that is more responsive to our needs and is delivered to more people at lower cost. The &amp;quot;solution,&amp;quot; my friends, isn&amp;#39;t a one-size-fits-all-big government takeover of health care. It resides where every important social advance has always resided&amp;nbsp;-- with the American people themselves, with well-informed American families, making practical decisions to address their imperatives for better health and more secure prosperity.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The Full Op-Ed In National Review &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="&quot;The Right Rx&quot;" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/18cb2304-1908-46d7-a296-d1d062fa8c69.htm" rowid="32320170" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            11 RNC Members Endorse John McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced the endorsement of 11 Republican National Committee members. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Electability is becoming a very important issue in this nomination contest and John McCain is the strongest candidate we could nominate to defeat the Democrat nominee in November,&amp;quot; said RNC Vice Chairman Chuck Yob.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked the RNC members, stating, &amp;quot;I am honored that these leaders of the Republican Party have endorsed my candidacy, and am grateful for their support,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Members of the Republican National Committee are automatically seated as delegates at the Republican National Convention. However, the Michigan delegates may not be seated, because of the early Michigan Republican Primary. From this endorsement list, John McCain has 9 super-delegate votes at the Republican National Convention.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;RNC MEMBERS ENDORSE JOHN MCCAINBruce Ash, ArizonaSharon Giese, Arizona John Matlusky, DelawareAlec Poitevint, GeorgiaMary Jo Arndt, Illinois Steve Cloud, KansasAlicia Salisbury, Kansas Gary Emineth,North DakotaMary Jean Jensen, South DakotaChuck Yob, Michigan Holly Hughes, Michigan &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="11 RNC Members Endorse John McCain" />
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                                                            2006 Massachusetts Republican Nominee For US Senate Ken Chase Endorses John McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Ken Chase, 2006 Massachusetts Republican Nominee for&amp;nbsp;U.S.&amp;nbsp;Senate, has endorsed John McCain for president. Chase, who won both the State Republican Nominating Convention and the Republican primary, was chosen as the GOP&amp;#39;s standard bearer against Ted Kennedy in 2006. Mr. Chase issued the following statement on his endorsement: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;I am proud to endorse John McCain for president. Senator McCain is the most proven, battle-tested conservative in the field. He has a thirty year record of defending the sanctity of life, fighting wasteful spending, and working to ensure that America is strong and safe.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;With John McCain, what you see is what you get; you never wonder where he stands. He is a candidate that conservatives can rely on.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Additionally, I think that in light of the uncertainty that America faces in the world today, we need a president with the courage and character to lead. That&amp;#39;s John McCain.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;It is my belief that John McCain is by far the Republican Party&amp;#39;s best hope of keeping the White House in November. I am glad to join the McCain team, and would urge my fellow Massachusetts Republicans to do the same.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked Mr. Chase for his support, saying, &amp;quot;Ken is a proven leader in his community. I appreciate his support, and look forward to working with him in the weeks ahead.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ken Chase is a businessman from Belmont, MA. He runs French and Spanish Schools, Inc., a school dedicated to teaching American children foreign languages. Chase, a lifelong Republican, has actively worked for Republican candidates in Massachusetts in every election cycle since 1982.&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="2006 Massachusetts Republican Nominee For US Senate Ken Chase Endorses John McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/3d859a98-7452-4754-8d5c-d9ce0047a73a.htm" rowid="32319971" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            35 Additional RNC Members Endorse John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that an additional 35 Republican National Committee Members have endorsed John McCain for president. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;This latest round of endorsements goes to show that the Republican Party is rallying around John McCain,&amp;quot; said RNC Vice Chairman Chuck Yob. &amp;quot;Republicans across the country are confident that John McCain is the leader best prepared to serve as commander in chief from day one, and they know he is the one candidate who can defeat either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama in November.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked the RNC members, saying, &amp;quot;I sincerely appreciate the support of these RNC delegates. They make a great addition to our growing team of Republican leaders, and I look forward to working with them for victory in November.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Members of the Republican National Committee are automatically seated as delegates at the Republican National Convention.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ADDITIONAL RNC MEMBERS SUPPORTING JOHN MCCAIN FOR PRESIDENT&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Joe Brown, NevadaDeMarus Carlson, NebraskaMichael Colley, OhioCindy Costa, South CarolinaTautai Faalevao, American Samoa Zoraida &amp;quot;Zori&amp;quot; Fonalledas, Puerto RicoLuis Fortuno, Puerto RicoTe&amp;#39;O Fuavai, American SamoaMiriam Hellreich, HawaiiBetti Hill, MontanaMike Hubbard, AlabamaErik Iverson, Montana Fred Lampropoulos, UtahJan Larimer, WyomingWilles Lee, HawaiiSue Lowden, NevadaDenise McNamara, Texas Carlos Mendez, Puerto RicoTim Morgan, CaliforniaRon Nehring, CaliforniaLilly Nunez, ColoradoLouis Pope, MarylandReince Priebus, WisconsinAmata Radewagen, American Samoa Priscilla Rakestraw, DelawareKaren Raye, MaineRon Schmidt, South DakotaTerry Strine, DelawareJoyce Terhes, MarylandTravis Thompson, HawaiiDiemer True, WyomingEdgar Welden, AlabamaBeverly Willard, NevadaRobert Roper, Vermont&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="35 Additional RNC Members Endorse John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/ec8c91f9-50de-4f7a-aa81-e11cbf6110e3.htm" rowid="32320111" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Los Angeles Times Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;John McCain For GOP Nominee &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;EditorialLos Angeles TimesSunday, February 3, 2008 Edition&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At a different moment in American history, we would hesitate to support a candidate for president whose social views so substantially departed from those we hold. But in this election, nothing less than America&amp;#39;s standing in the world turns on the outcome. Given that, our choice for the Republican nominee in 2008 is sure and heartfelt. It is John McCain.&lt;/p&gt;
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McCain opposes abortion and rejects the right of gays and lesbians to marry -- two positions we reject. He supports the war in Iraq, whereas we see this nation&amp;#39;s interests better served by a prompt and orderly withdrawal of U.S. forces. But the Arizona senator&amp;#39;s conservatism is, if not always to our liking, at least genuine. It reflects his fundamental individualism, spanning his distrust of big government, his support for immigration reform and his insistence on a sound American foreign policy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Indeed, McCain&amp;#39;s suitability for the presidency at this moment begins with how he would conduct the nation&amp;#39;s foreign affairs. As noted, we do not support his determination to fight on in Iraq, but we welcome his insistence that America&amp;#39;s military posture be matched by its moral purpose. Alone among the Republican candidates, he would close the detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which has become an international symbol of U.S. arrogance. He has waged a principled and persistent effort to end the Bush administration&amp;#39;s embrace of torture as a weapon of war, a frightening concession to terrorism and an abdication of basic American values. He alone among the Republican candidates has condemned torture in all its forms; he alone among all the candidates in this race has endured it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Those are positions that should impress voters across the political spectrum; indeed, part of the argument for McCain&amp;#39;s candidacy, as for Barack Obama&amp;#39;s on the Democratic ballot, is its appeal across the center. That won&amp;#39;t help McCain next week, at least in California, where the Republican Party does not permit independents to vote in its primary. But there are other, more specifically Republican, reasons why GOP voters should support him.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain is committed to free trade, a welcome alternative to the protectionist views of leading Democrats. He is clear-eyed about the imperiled futures of Social Security and Medicare, and though he has yet to say precisely what he&amp;#39;d do about those looming crises, he has placed them near the top of his domestic agenda. He has opposed pork-barrel spending in the form of undisclosed earmarks and has been a lonely, determined voice against the government&amp;#39;s handing out cash to stimulate the economy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Then there is an issue on which McCain has broken from the mainstream of his party and on which the party would do well to rejoin him: immigration. As the Republican field indulged this campaign season in an orgy of ignorance on immigration, McCain stood his ground, sponsoring legislation that would provide a route to citizenship for the 11 million to 12 million immigrants here illegally. His rivals have argued for mass deportations and strong border fences. McCain too backs toughened enforcement, but he has defended the humanity of those at the center of this debate. &amp;quot;We are all God&amp;#39;s children,&amp;quot; he says with conviction. McCain equivocated alarmingly on this issue last week, saying during the GOP debate that he would not today support the immigration bill that he courageously championed last summer. He should return to his support for immigration reform, and Republicans should follow him.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Similarly, McCain has led his party in its halting effort to confront the reality of climate change. He introduced the Senate&amp;#39;s first attempt to address the problem legislatively in 2003, and although that bill failed, McCain has supported cap-and-trade systems that could reduce greenhouse gases, and he has stayed that course despite criticism from fellow Republicans.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain is not the only Republican in this race, and not the only impressive one. Mitt Romney is a vigorous and articulate alternative, whose solid business background adds to his political resume. We appreciate his analytical skills as well as his distinguished record as governor of Massachusetts, where he pioneered healthcare reform and demonstrated leadership with his willingness to cross party lines for progress. But Romney has spent so much effort to convince Republicans he&amp;#39;s one of them that he has called his most basic values into question. To cite the most glaring example: He once supported abortion rights and now opposes them. Romney also refuses to renounce torture, a position that for us disqualifies him. Mike Huckabee, meanwhile, is a good-natured man with an admirable record as governor of Arkansas, but his Christian fundamentalism so infuses his secular views that he has drifted to the margins of the campaign and become increasingly irrelevant.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We do not agree with John McCain on every issue. But we admire his conviction and stand with him on those that matter most right now.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read Los Angeles Times Editorial: &amp;quot;John McCain For GOP Nominee&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="&lt;em&gt;Los Angeles Times&lt;/em&gt; Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/46c771db-f1c4-4182-86e6-3f2ef8eedb08.htm" rowid="32320017" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;John McCain For President: A Hero Leader&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Editorial&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Pittsburgh Tribune-Review&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;February 10, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;You have to hand it to John McCain. He has an impeccable sense of timing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At the very moment that a dangerously fractured Republican Party could have disintegrated -- Thursday, when Mitt Romney, the darling of the anti-McCain crowd exited the race -- Sen. McCain delivered a stunning speech to the annual gathering of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Certainly, there was a measured sense of rebuke in the words of the Arizona senator who now has a virtual lock on the GOP presidential nomination. Fiercely independent, McCain made no apologies for positions he holds dear but may be at odds with the traditional conservative base.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But McCain also offered an impressive tutorial on what the core of conservatism really is -- small government, fiscal discipline, low taxes, a strong defense and a judiciary that does not legislate from the bench.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;And in the starkest of terms, John McCain reminded those gathered at CPAC and those watching nationwide that the alternative -- freedom-stripping, purse-robbing and security-endangering Democrats -- is no alternative at all.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It was the speech of a hero leader at the exact moment when America is in dire need of heroes and leaders. And we wholeheartedly endorse John McCain for president.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Editorial: &amp;quot;John McCain For President: A Hero Leader&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="&lt;em&gt;Pittsburgh Tribune-Review&lt;/em&gt; Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/ff57febe-0279-483c-9594-888ffb26224a.htm" rowid="32320015" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            The Baltimore Sun Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;Excerpts From &amp;quot;Sun Endorsement: Betting On Change, Reform&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Editorial&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Baltimore Sun&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;February 10, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;... In the Republican primary, John McCain is our choice. The veteran Arizona senator whose political obituary had been all but written has risen like a phoenix to presumptive nominee status. He has stood his ground on tough issues such as immigration reform, campaign finance and torture, and we praised him for it. He is principled and has been willing to compromise. ...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The Baltimore Sun Editorial: &amp;quot;Sun Endorsement: Betting On Change, Reform&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="&lt;em&gt;The Baltimore Sun&lt;/em&gt; Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/3cdcd639-6207-44f6-a7c9-656b1fb8dfb1.htm" rowid="32320308" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            The Greenville News Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;No issue is more important than this nation&amp;#39;s security, and no Republican on Saturday&amp;#39;s ballot is better qualified to offer steady, tested, reassuring leadership than Arizona Sen. John McCain. ... McCain could bring traits to the White House that are needed most during dangerous times. He is an independent thinker, a coalition builder and an intuitive leader. John McCain is the strongest candidate on the GOP ballot ... John McCain can be trusted with this nation&amp;#39;s security, and that&amp;#39;s a powerful reason for South Carolina Republicans to vote for him Saturday.&amp;quot; -- The Greenville News&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain Has What It Takes To Be President &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He&amp;#39;s The Strongest Candidate On The GOP Ballot Saturday&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;EditorialThe Greenville NewsJanuary 13, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;South Carolina voters face a strong slate of candidates in Saturday&amp;#39;s presidential primary for the Republican Party. No issue is more important than this nation&amp;#39;s security, and no Republican on Saturday&amp;#39;s ballot is better qualified to offer steady, tested, reassuring leadership than Arizona Sen. John McCain.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In this state, voters do not register by political party. They can vote in Saturday&amp;#39;s Republican primary or in the Jan. 26 Democratic primary. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. for the next two Saturdays. ...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Over the past eight years, Americans have learned that the world is still a very dangerous place in this post-Cold War era. The next president of the United States must be able to handle threats that cannot be imagined today. John McCain offers a wealth of foreign policy knowledge. He understands military strategy and has personal characteristics that would earn him automatic respect from the men and women who wear this country&amp;#39;s uniform. He is a genuine war hero -- a man who endured torture when he was a Vietnam War prisoner of war, and he does not have to prove his courage or resolve to anyone.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Even more, McCain could bring traits to the White House that are needed most during dangerous times. He is an independent thinker, a coalition builder and an intuitive leader.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain is the strongest candidate on the GOP ballot, and The Greenville News endorses him in Saturday&amp;#39;s primary.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This endorsement comes with realization that this editorial page and McCain have disagreed on several major issues over the past eight years. McCain voted against the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts proposed by President Bush and fortunately approved by Congress. Those tax cuts can be credited with nurturing a dynamic economy for much of President Bush&amp;#39;s two terms and, more importantly, improving the lives of American citizens by allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned dollars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;To his credit, McCain has promised to work to make permanent those tax cuts that are scheduled to expire at the end of 2010. He repeated this pledge in Thursday night&amp;#39;s debate, and he was equally adamant that tax cuts must be accompanied by cuts in spending. McCain is the enemy of the self-serving earmarks that corrupt the budgeting process and fuel reckless spending. Federal spending must be brought under control, and McCain is entirely believable when he says he will vigorously use the veto pen if he&amp;#39;s elected.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain brings to this race a proven ability to reach across the aisle and work with Democrats. Some of his most vocal detractors in the Republican Party detest his willingness to work for bipartisan compromises. But this ability is more important now than two elections ago given the bitterly divided nature of Washington politics. And the effectiveness of this political approach can be seen best in what President Bush has been able to accomplish on the Supreme Court -- through Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito -- because of a compromise engineered in large part by McCain.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On issues from the war in Iraq to immigration, McCain has never sought to walk the well-worn popular path. He has taken stands at times at odds with his own party, and he pushed the Bush administration to shift tactics in Iraq and find civilian and military leaders more suitable for the challenges in Iraq.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Like many of the Republican candidates, McCain has pragmatic ideas about how to reform health care, entitlement programs and domestic spending. But more important, John McCain can be trusted with this nation&amp;#39;s security, and that&amp;#39;s a powerful reason for South Carolina Republicans to vote for him Saturday.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read Greenville News Editorial: &amp;quot;McCain Has What It Takes To Be President&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="&lt;em&gt;The Greenville News&lt;/em&gt; Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/5f8340d3-33ac-49b9-aecc-0207559597cf.htm" rowid="32320054" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            The Journal Standard IL Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;Primary Election Endorsements - Presidential Candidates&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;EditorialThe Journal StandardFebruary 2, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;...&amp;nbsp;While Democrats are casting their vote for Sen. Obama on Super Tuesday, Republicans should be casting their vote for Sen. John McCain of Arizona.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The highly decorated Vietnam War hero and longtime senator approaches conservative principles in a pragmatic way. He seems to understand that the challenges facing America in the post-George W. Bush years will require an ability to bend and adapt. While we don&amp;#39;t agree with his stand on many issues, we are at least sure his positions are honest and well-considered. Yes, he&amp;#39;s pugnacious, but when was that a liability in politics?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In contrast, former Gov. Mitt Romney bloomed as a conservative after he decided to seek the presidency. Flip-flop or chrysalis? Since so many conservative principles are framed in moral terms, it would seem Gov. Romney is a little too far down the road to Damascus in his political life to be having a Saul to Paul moment.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Gov. Mike Huckabee wouldn&amp;#39;t be a serious contender for the nomination without the media attention he&amp;#39;s garnered as a shoot-from-the-lip born again.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On Tuesday, Feb 5, The Journal-Standard urges Democrats to select Sen. Barack Obama for the presidential nomination. We believe Republicans would be well-served by selecting Sen. John McCain.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The Entire Journal Standard Editorial: &amp;quot;Primary Election Endorsements - Presidential Candidates&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="&lt;em&gt;The Journal Standard&lt;/em&gt; IL Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/ac763a48-696d-492d-99ca-bf9f4a78dc14.htm" rowid="32320252" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            The Kansas City Star Endorses John McCain for President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;Excerpts From &amp;quot;Clinton, McCain Could Lead U.S. Well In The Years Ahead&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Editorial The Kansas City StarJanuary 19, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;No one in the still-crowded Republican field has a better claim to the battle cry of &amp;quot;change&amp;quot; than Sen. McCain of Arizona.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He has a very long track record of denouncing business as usual in Washington, which led us to endorse him in the 2000 GOP primary as well. He has been a tireless advocate of campaign finance reform and better ethics in government.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Unlike most of his opponents in this year&amp;#39;s GOP race, McCain has extensive foreign policy experience -- a critical difference.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain&amp;#39;s common sense and moderately conservative voting record attract many Republicans. But this year, as in the past, he also holds considerable appeal to independent voters as well.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There are good reasons for this. McCain has repeatedly shown the ability to look past political differences, negotiate compromises and forge constructive agreements. He helped prevent a partisan meltdown in the Senate over judicial appointments, for example.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;And when he thinks it is appropriate, he isn&amp;#39;t afraid to challenge people in his own party.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain&amp;#39;s strong opposition to wasteful pork-barrel spending has irritated colleagues on Capitol Hill, but it should impress taxpayers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He&amp;#39;s also been a voice of reason on immigration, where he has offered constructive proposals, and environmental protection, which he calls both a &amp;quot;sacred duty&amp;quot; and a &amp;quot;patriotic responsibility.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A Vietnam War hero who endured years of torture, McCain understands what military conflict involves for a country and its men and women in uniform. ...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The rest of the Republican field this year is far less impressive. For all the talk of change, McCain&amp;#39;s rivals have spent much of their time looking back to the 1980s or suggesting a continuation of Bush administration policies.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain&amp;#39;s opponents have also ignored many important subjects. Mitt Romney, for example, doesn&amp;#39;t even include environmental concerns in the list of issues on his Web site.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read Entire Kansas City Star Editorial Endorsing John McCain for President &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="&lt;em&gt;The Kansas City Star&lt;/em&gt; Endorses John McCain for President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/17670572-1351-4010-af2f-83f384b4fe30.htm" rowid="32320203" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            The Polk County Democrat Endorses John McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;Excerpts From McCain Is GOP&amp;#39;s Clear Choice; Democrats Don&amp;#39;t Want Florida&amp;#39;s Input&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;EditorialThe Polk County DemocratJanuary 24, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
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More Florida Endorsements 



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More Endorsements for John McCain 




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Gainesville Sun 

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The Polk County Democrat 

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Sun-Sentinel 








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... The Republicans have fielded a worthy group of candidates (and some who are not so worthy). They all have conservative credentials, and most have some degree of leadership on their political resums.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;One stands out as having all of these plus strength of moral and political character that sets him apart in the group.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A decorated combat veteran and a former prisoner of war, McCain has an understanding of what is at stake in international relations and military affairs. He has served on Senatorial committees in both areas.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A decorated combat veteran and a former prisoner of war, McCain has an understanding of what is at stake in international relations and military affairs. He has served on Senatorial committees in both areas.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;While the Democratic candidates speak only of pulling our troops out of Iraq, McCain adds that first we must win the war. We do not need another defeat like Vietnam, not even one wrapped in a Nixonian phrase like &amp;quot;peace with honor.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But McCain also calls &amp;quot;water boarding&amp;quot; what it is: torture. It is a tactic unworthy of America, and one that could be used by future enemies to justify their own mistreatment of our soldiers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain had the political courage to support the &amp;quot;surge&amp;quot; in Iraq at a time when it had become politically popular to abandon our troops and write off their losses of life and limb.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain has shown himself not to be a Republican ideologue, but a thinking conservative who makes his own decisions without a pollster at one elbow and a spinmeister at the other.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We endorse John McCain&amp;#39;s candidacy for the Republican nomination for president.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read Polk County Democrat Editorial: &amp;quot;McCain Is GOP&amp;#39;s Clear Choice; Democrats Don&amp;#39;t Want Florida&amp;#39;s Input&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="&lt;em&gt;The Polk County Democrat&lt;/em&gt; Endorses John McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-02-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/c81bad27-747c-46f9-9c51-87303b35eb6a.htm" rowid="32320757" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            &lt;p&gt;Team McCain Adds Leading Rhode Island RepublicansHouse Minority Leader, RNC Committeewoman, State Legislators &amp;amp; GOP Leaders Align With Arizona Senator&lt;/p&gt;
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential exploratory committee today announced that House Minority Leader and state Rep. Robert Watson will serve as Chairman of the Arizona Senator&amp;#39;s exploratory committee in Rhode Island. In addition, Republican National Committeewoman Eileen Slocum will serve as Honorary Co-Chair of Senator McCain&amp;#39;s committee in the Ocean State.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Watson and Slocum join Rhode Island legislators and Republican leaders, which are also endorsing Senator John McCain. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Rep. Watson was elected in 1992 to the Rhode Island House of Representatives and is currently the House Minority Leader. Prior to serving in the House, Rep. Watson was a state Senator for two years. Rep. Watson also served as chairman of Senator McCain&amp;#39;s team in Rhode Island in 2000.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Rep. Watson stated that he was proud to be part of Senator McCain&amp;#39;s team again. &amp;quot;Senator McCain has the support of many Republican legislators and leaders in the state and today&amp;#39;s announcement is just the beginning,&amp;quot; said Rep. Watson. &amp;quot;His support in Rhode Island is tremendous and I look forward to communicating his reform agenda.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Eileen Slocum has served as the Republican National Committeewoman from Rhode Island since 1992 and was a leading supporter of then Governor George W. Bush in 2000. Slocum was a delegate to GOP conventions in 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996. She is a former president of the Newport Women&amp;#39;s Republican Club and vice chairman of the Newport Republican City Committee.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Senator John McCain has consistently advocated for fiscal responsibility in the nation&amp;#39;s capital, while always sticking to his common sense conservative principles,&amp;quot; said Slocum. &amp;quot;I am honored to be a part of Senator McCain&amp;#39;s team and will work to build an organization in our state that is second to none.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Senator John McCain stated he was pleased to have the support of these influential Rhode Island Republicans. &amp;quot;The support of such respected and trusted leaders, like Bob and Eileen, is a deep honor,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain. &amp;quot;These distinguished supporters have a profound knowledge and understanding of grassroots politics in Rhode Island. These are important additions to my team and I look forward to working with them.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The following Rhode Island Republican leaders are supporting Senator John McCain.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Rhode Island Republican Leaders Supporting Senator John McCain &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable Susan Story (Representative - District 66)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable John Savage (Representative - District 65)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable John Loughlin (Representative - District 71)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable Richard Singleton (Representative - District 52)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable Carol Mumford (Representative - District 41)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable Laurence Ehrhardt (Representative - District 32)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable Victor Moffitt (Representative - District 28)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable William McManus (Representative - District 46)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable Nicholas Gorham (Representative - District 40)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable June Gibbs (State Senator)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable Richard Fleury (Former Representative - West Warwick)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable Charles Millard (Former Representative - Bristol)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable Christine Callahan (Former Representative - Middletown)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable Bradford Gorham (Former State Senator / Former House Minority Leader)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable David Dumas (House Parliamentarian / Former House Minority Leader)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable Wayne Salisbury (Councilman / Scituate / Former House Minority Leader)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Honorable Stephen Waluk (Councilman / Mayor of Newport)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Margaret Gartelman (2nd Vice Chair - RIGOP / Town GOP Chair - West Greenwich)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Steve Kass (Former Talk Show Host / Communications Director - Gov. Carcieri)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Elizabeth Dumas (Former Town GOP Chair - East Greenwich)&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="&lt;P&gt;Team McCain Adds Leading Rhode Island Republicans&lt;BR&gt;&lt;I&gt;House Minority Leader, RNC Committeewoman" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/6281df04-a3d5-41d9-9bbe-a5359d05d3f4.htm" rowid="32320184" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Florida Governor Charlie Crist Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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Bliptv_player_auto(&amp;quot;632375&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;300&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;182&amp;quot;);


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ARLINGTON, VA -- Tonight in St. Petersburg, Florida Governor Charlie Crist endorsed John McCain for President of the United States. &lt;/p&gt;
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&amp;quot;Senator John McCain is a true American hero and patriot and I am honored to endorse him tonight in St. Petersburg,&amp;quot; said Governor Crist. &amp;quot;He is a tremendous statesman, leader and uniter. I am confident that his years of experience will serve our country well when he becomes the next President of the United States.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked Governor Crist for his support, stating, &amp;quot;Charlie Crist has earned the admiration and respect of the people of Florida for his principled, conservative leadership and boundless optimism for the future of the Sunshine State. He&amp;#39;s a leader of the new generation of Republican governors who are putting conservative principles to work for the people of America. I am honored to have his support as we work toward victory in Florida on Tuesday.&amp;quot;





More: Visit our Florida homepage today
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            " title="&lt;strong&gt;Florida Governor Charlie Crist Endorses John McCain For President&lt;/strong&gt;" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/8528d447-e576-439f-89b6-718238ed7ed3.htm" rowid="32319637" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            A Simple Question for Barack Obama
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA--&amp;nbsp; Today, with&amp;nbsp;the Supreme Court decision and Barack Obama&amp;#39;s response, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds asked the following simple question:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Does Barack Obama believe that the D.C. handgun ban was constitutional or unconstitutional? We can&amp;#39;t tell and Barack Obama won&amp;#39;t say. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;One would think that a candidate for our nation&amp;#39;s highest office and a self-described constitutional expert would be able to answer that simple question.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Background:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Associated Press: Neither Barack Obama In His Statement Or His Campaign On Follow-Up Would &amp;quot;Specifically Say Whether Obama Agreed With Overturning The Specific D.C. Ban.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;His Democratic rival, Obama, issued a more carefully worded statement apparently aimed at both moderate voters and his liberal base. The statement from Obama, who has long said local governments should be able to regulate guns, did not specifically say whether Obama agreed with overturning the specific D.C. ban.&amp;nbsp;... The campaign would not answer directly Thursday when asked whether the candidate agreed with the court that the D.C. ban was unconstitutional, simply pointing back to his statement.&amp;quot; (Liz Sidoti, &amp;quot;Gun Ruling Reverberates In Presidential Campaign,&amp;quot; The Associated Press, 6/26/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Gun Ruling Reverberates In Presidential CampaignBy Liz SidotiThe Associated PressJune 26, 2008http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080626/D91HV9SG0.html &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain welcomed a Supreme Court decision invalidating a District of Columbia handgun ban. Barack Obama sought to straddle the subject by saying he favors an individual&amp;#39;s right to bear firearms as well as a government&amp;#39;s right to regulate them.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The hotly contentious issue surfaced in the presidential campaign Thursday after the Supreme Court ruled that Americans have a constitutional right to own guns and struck down the 32-year-old D.C. ban.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain, the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting, heralded the justices&amp;#39; action as &amp;quot;a landmark victory for Second Amendment freedom.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Voicing a stance that could help him woo conservatives and libertarians, McCain said, &amp;quot;This ruling does not mark the end of our struggle against those who seek to limit the rights of law-abiding citizens. We must always remain vigilant in defense of our freedoms.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;His Democratic rival, Obama, issued a more carefully worded statement apparently aimed at both moderate voters and his liberal base. The statement from Obama, who has long said local governments should be able to regulate guns, did not specifically say whether Obama agreed with overturning the specific D.C. ban. But he said Thursday&amp;#39;s ruling &amp;quot;will provide much-needed guidance to local jurisdictions across the country.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;I have always believed that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms, but I also identify with the need for crime-ravaged communities to save their children from the violence that plagues our streets through commonsense, effective safety measures,&amp;quot; Obama said.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Obama said his view was supported by the court&amp;#39;s ruling that the Constitution does not permit &amp;quot;the absolute prohibition of handguns.&amp;quot; That language &amp;quot;reinforces that if we act responsibly, we can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children safe,&amp;quot; Obama said.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Both presidential candidates endorse an individual&amp;#39;s right to bear arms. But they strongly differ beyond that. McCain has had a mostly conservative record on the issue; Obama, a mostly liberal record.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Other than a few departures, McCain is largely in line with the National Rifle Association&amp;#39;s hardline support for gun rights. He voted against a ban on assault-style weapons and for shielding gun-makers and dealers from civil damage suits. But he broke with the NRA to favor requiring background checks at gun shows and has taken heat for pushing through campaign finance legislation that gun-rights advocates say muzzled their free speech.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Obama has voted to leave gun-makers and dealers open to lawsuits. He also took largely liberal positions on gun laws while in the Illinois legislature, including backing a ban on all forms of semiautomatic weapons and tighter state restrictions generally on firearms.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Campaigning in Cincinnati, McCain claimed Obama has reversed course on the issue. Obama told FOX Business News network that he&amp;#39;s been consistent.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Democrat&amp;#39;s campaign said a spokesman made an &amp;quot;inartful&amp;quot; statement when he said in November that Obama believed the D.C. law was constitutional. But Obama himself did not correct a debate moderator who repeated the position in February.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;You said in Idaho recently, I&amp;#39;m quoting here, &amp;#39;I have no intention of taking away folks&amp;#39; guns.&amp;#39; But you support the D.C. handgun ban and you&amp;#39;ve said that it&amp;#39;s constitutional,&amp;quot; said the moderator, Leon Harris of Washington television station WJLA. Obama nodded as Harris spoke, nodding and saying, &amp;quot;Right, right.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;How can you reconcile those two different positions?&amp;quot; Harris asked.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Obama answered that the United States has conflicting traditions of gun ownership and street violence that results from illegal handgun use. &amp;quot;So, there is nothing wrong, I think, with a community saying we are going to take those illegal handguns off the streets,&amp;quot; Obama said.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Obama campaign argued that Obama was simply acknowledging the question by saying &amp;quot;right.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In other instances, Obama refused to articulate a position when asked whether he thought the D.C. ban was constitutional.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The campaign would not answer directly Thursday when asked whether the candidate agreed with the court that the D.C. ban was unconstitutional, simply pointing back to his statement.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="A Simple Question for Barack Obama" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/5a80daf7-b81f-4e61-aef0-6f70fd44f933.htm" rowid="32319636" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            A Timeline of Political Positioning on Second Amendment Rights
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA-- Throughout his time in elected office, Barack Obama has taken multiple positions on banning handguns and the D.C. handgun ban. He has stated his belief that handgun bans were constitutional and he supported them. Then he actually refused to state a position. Now, Barack Obama has issued a statement that some are reporting as an embrace of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the D.C. handgun ban while others are reporting that he is still straddling his position. Please find below a timeline of Barack Obama&amp;#39;s support for the D.C. handgun ban and subsequent reversal:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;SEPTEMBER 1996: In Response To A 1996 Independent Voters Of Illinois Questionnaire, Obama Indicated That He Supported Banning The &amp;quot;Manufacture, Sale And Possession Of Handguns.&amp;quot; Question: &amp;quot;Do you support state legislation to ... ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns?&amp;quot; Obama&amp;#39;s Response: &amp;quot;Yes.&amp;quot; (Independent Voters Of Illinois Independent Precinct Organization 1996 General Candidate Questionnaire, Barack Obama Responses, 9/9/96)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;2004: Barack Obama Voted Against &amp;quot;Letting People Use A Self-Defense Argument If Charged With Violating Local Handgun Bans.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;[Obama] opposed letting people use a self-defense argument if charged with violating local handgun bans by using weapons in their homes. The bill was a reaction to a Chicago-area man who, after shooting an intruder, was charged with a handgun violation.&amp;quot; (Ryan Keith &amp;quot;Obama Record In State Legislature Offers Possible Ammunition For Critics,&amp;quot; The Associated Press, 1/17/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;NOVEMBER 2007: The Chicago Tribune Reports That The Obama Campaign Says Barack Obama &amp;quot;Believes The D.C. Handgun Law Is Constitutional.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;[T]he campaign of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said that he &amp;#39;...believes that we can recognize and respect the rights of law-abiding gun owners and the right of local communities to enact common sense laws to combat violence and save lives. Obama believes the D.C. handgun law is constitutional.&amp;#39;&amp;quot; (James Oliphant and Michael J. Higgins, &amp;quot;Court To Hear Gun Case,&amp;quot; Chicago Tribune, 11/20/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FEBRUARY 2008: During An Interview, Barack Obama Acknowledged His Support For The D.C. Gun Ban. Questioner Leon Harris: &amp;quot;One other issue that&amp;#39;s of great importance here in the district as well is gun control. You said in Idaho recently&amp;nbsp;-- I&amp;#39;m quoting here&amp;nbsp;-- &amp;#39;I have no intention of taking away folks&amp;#39; guns,&amp;#39; but you support the D.C. handgun ban.&amp;quot; Obama: &amp;quot;Right.&amp;quot; (Leon Harris and Sen. Barack Obama, Forum Sponsored By ABC And Politico.Com, Washington, DC, 2/12/08) &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· In The Same Interview, Barack Obama Indicated He Feels The D.C. Gun Ban Is Constitutional. Harris: &amp;quot;And you&amp;#39;ve said that it&amp;#39;s constitutional. How can you reconcile those two different positions?&amp;quot; Obama: &amp;quot;Oh, because I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it is important for us to recognize that we&amp;#39;ve got a tradition of handgun ownership and gun ownership generally. And a lot of people, law-abiding citizens, use it for hunting, for sportsmanship, and for protecting their families. We also have violence on the streets that is a result of illegal handgun use. And so, there is nothing wrong, I think, with a community saying we are going to take those illegal handguns off the streets ...&amp;quot; (Leon Harris and Sen. Barack Obama, Forum Sponsored By ABC And Politico.com, Washington, DC, 2/12/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· In This Interview, Barack Obama &amp;quot;Didn&amp;#39;t Dispute The Characterization That He Believes The Ban Is Constitutional.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;But a colleague points out that Obama took a question about the constitutionality of the gun ban from WJLA&amp;#39;s Leon Harris during the Potomac Primary, and didn&amp;#39;t dispute the characterization that he believes the ban is constitutional.&amp;quot; (Ben Smith, &amp;quot;Inartful,&amp;quot; The Politico, 6/26/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· Watch The Interview Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wu9jE1MnAE &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FEBRUARY 2008: Barack Obama &amp;quot;Declined To Take A Position For Or Against Its Constitutionality.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;Today Obama reiterated his support for tighter enforcement of laws already on the books&amp;nbsp;-- such as stronger background checks and enhancing programs to trace the provenance of guns used in crimes. He would also seek to close the loopholes that currently apply to firearms purchased at gun shows. But asked today about the DC handgun ban currently being reviewed by the US Supreme Court, Obama declined to take a position for or against its Constitutionality but did express broad support for the rights of local jurisdictions to make such decisions for themselves.&amp;quot; (David Wright, Ursula Fahy And Sunlen Miller, &amp;quot;Obama: &amp;#39;Common Sense Regulation&amp;#39; On Gun Owners&amp;#39; Rights,&amp;quot; ABC News, 2/15/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MARCH 2008: Obama Campaign &amp;quot;Would Not Elaborate On Whether The Senator Supports The D.C. Gun Ban.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;Jen Psaki, a spokeswoman for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, said Mr. Obama &amp;#39;believes the Second Amendment creates an individual right, and he greatly respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms.&amp;#39; &amp;#39;He also believes that the Constitution permits state and local governments to adopt reasonable and common-sense gun safety measures,&amp;#39; she said, but would not elaborate on the whether the senator supports the D.C. gun ban.&amp;quot; (Gary Emerling, &amp;quot;Nation Awaits D.C. Handgun Ruling,&amp;quot; The Washington Times, 3/17/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;APRIL 2008: Barack Obama Says &amp;quot;I Confess I Obviously Haven&amp;#39;t Listened To The Briefs And Looked At All The Evidence.&amp;quot; CHARLIE GIBSON: &amp;quot;Senator Obama, the District of Columbia has a law -- it&amp;#39;s had a law since 1976; it&amp;#39;s now before the United States Supreme Court -- that prohibits ownership of handguns, a sawed-off shotgun, a machine gun or a short-barrelled rifle. Is that a law consistent with an individual&amp;#39;s right to bear arms?&amp;quot; OBAMA: &amp;quot;Well, Charlie, I confess I obviously haven&amp;#39;t listened to the briefs and looked at all the evidence. As a general principle, I believe that the Constitution confers an individual right to bear arms. But just because you have an individual right does not mean that the state or local government can&amp;#39;t constrain the exercise of that right, and, you know, in the same way that we have a right to private property but local governments can establish zoning ordinances that determine how you can use i t. And I think that it is going to be important for us to reconcile what are two realities in this country. There&amp;#39;s the reality of gun ownership and the tradition of gun ownership that&amp;#39;s passed on from generation to generation. You know, when you listen to people who have hunted, and they talk about the fact that they went hunting with their fathers or their mothers, then that is something that is deeply important to them and, culturally, they care about deeply. But you also have the reality of what&amp;#39;s happening here in Philadelphia and what&amp;#39;s happening in Chicago.&amp;quot; (Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate, Philadelphia, PA, 4/16/08&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;JUNE 2008: Barack Obama Says He Wants To &amp;quot;Wait And See How The Supreme Court Comes Down.&amp;quot; OBAMA: &amp;quot;What I have said is that I do not -- what I have said is, is that I&amp;#39;m a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, but I do not think that that precludes local governments being able to provide some commonsense gun laws that keep guns out of the hands of gangbangers or children, that local jurisdictions are going to have different sets of problems, and that this is a very fact-intensive decision that has to be made. But I do think that the Second Amendment is an individual right. So, what I would like to do is wait and see how the Supreme Court comes down, and evaluate the actual reasoning in the case to see how broad or narrow the decision&amp;#39;s going to be.&amp;quot; (Barack Obama, Press Conference, Chicago, IL, 6/25/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;JUNE 2008: The Obama Campaign Says An Unnamed Was &amp;quot;Inartful&amp;quot; In Telling The Chicago Tribune That Barack Obama Thought The Handgun Ban Was Constitutional &amp;quot;With the Supreme Court poised to rule on Washington, D.C.&amp;#39;s, gun ban, the Obama campaign is disavowing what it calls an &amp;#39;inartful&amp;#39; statement to the Chicago Tribune last year in which an unnamed aide characterized Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as believing that the DC ban was constitutional. &amp;#39;That statement was obviously an inartful attempt to explain the Senator&amp;#39;s consistent position,&amp;#39; Obama spokesman Bill Burton tells ABC News.&amp;quot; (Teddy Davis And Alexa Ainsworth, &amp;quot;Obama Camp Disavows Last Year&amp;#39;s &amp;#39;Inartful&amp;#39; Statement On D.C. Gun Law,&amp;quot; ABC News, 6/26/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;JUNE 2008: ABC News&amp;#39; Jake Tapper Says Barack Obama Is &amp;quot;Embracing The 5-4 Decision, Written By Justice Antonin Scalia, That Struck Down The DC Handgun Ban As Unconstitutional.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, may have a long record of supporting gun control measures, and he may have seemed to have previously endorsed the DC Handgun Ban. But just now he issued a paper statement embracing the 5-4 decision, written by Justice Antonin Scalia, that struck down the DC Handgun Ban as unconstitutional.&amp;quot; (Jake Tapper, &amp;quot;Obama Embraces Supreme Court Decision As &amp;#39;Well-Needed Guidance,&amp;#39;&amp;quot; ABC News, 6/26/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;JUNE 2008: Politico&amp;#39;s Jonathan Martin Says Barack Obama &amp;quot;Plainly Trying To Straddle Here.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;He&amp;#39;s plainly trying to straddle here. It actually sounds&amp;nbsp;-- especially the &amp;#39;Cheyenne and Chicago&amp;#39; language&amp;nbsp;-- quite a bit like the language Howard Dean used in &amp;#39;04 when trying to reconcile gun views tailored for pro-gun Vermont with a Dem primary.&amp;quot; (Jonathan Martin, &amp;quot;Obama Careful On Heller,&amp;quot; Politico, 6/26/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;JUNE 2008: Now, This Afternoon, Barack Obama Says &amp;quot;I&amp;#39;ve Been Very Consistent, I Teach Constitutional Law&amp;quot; Despite His Numerous Contradictory Positions. &amp;quot;Craig Layne, a reporter from WJET-TV in Erie, Penn., today asked Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, a question on the DC gun ban. Here&amp;#39;s how the exchange went down. &amp;#39;In November you mentioned that the DC handgun law was constitutional,&amp;#39; Layne said. &amp;#39;Now you&amp;#39;re embracing the Supreme Court&amp;#39;s 5-4 decision striking down that law---&amp;#39; &amp;#39;That&amp;#39;s not what I said,&amp;#39; Obama interrupted, per ABC News&amp;#39; Jennifer Duck. &amp;#39;Your aide said that,&amp;#39; Layne clarified. &amp;#39;I don&amp;#39;t know what my aide said but I&amp;#39;ve been very consistent, I teach constitutional law,&amp;quot; Obama said. What I said was that I believe 2nd Amendment as being an individual right and have said that consistently. I also think that individual right is constrained by the rights of the community to maintain issues with public safety. I don&amp;#39;t thi nk those two principles are contradictory and in fact what I&amp;#39;ve been saying consistently is what the Supreme Court essentially said today.&amp;#39;&amp;quot; (Jake Tapper, &amp;quot;Obama Eager To Distance Self From Campaign&amp;#39;s Former Position On DC Handgun Ban,&amp;quot; ABC News, 6/26/08)&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="A Timeline of Political Positioning on Second Amendment Rights" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/28c711df-47b3-4d2c-a1c5-612bd7a4e488.htm" rowid="32319665" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            A Timeline Of Reversal
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA&amp;nbsp;-- Throughout this campaign, Barack Obama has campaigned on his pledge to take public financing in the general election. However, today, Barack Obama has shown himself to be a typical politician. Please find below a timeline of Barack Obama&amp;#39;s support for public financing and subsequent reversal:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;JUNE 2006: Barack Obama Says &amp;quot;I Strongly Support Public Financing.&amp;quot; OBAMA: &amp;quot;Well, I strongly support public financing. And I know [Senator] Dick [Durbin] does too. He&amp;#39;s going to have some things to say about it because when we were having - as you&amp;#39;ll recall - the major debates around lobbying reform, one of the things that Dick, I think, properly pointed out was that you can change the rules on lobbying here in Washington, but if we&amp;#39;re still getting financed primarily from individual contributions, that those with the most money are still going to have the most influence.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Constituents Breakfast, 6/29/06)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· Please Watch Barack Obama Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU5V3fO7B1U &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;JANUARY 2007: Barack Obama Says &amp;quot;I&amp;#39;m A Big Believer In Public Financing&amp;quot; And &amp;quot;The Presidential Public Financing System Works.&amp;quot; KING: &amp;quot;Senator Clinton, by the way, has decided to reject public financing for her campaign. Are you going to do the same?&amp;quot; OBAMA: &amp;quot;Well, you know, this is something that, obviously, we are going to have to take a careful look at. I&amp;#39;m a big believer in public financing of campaigns. And I think that for a time, the presidential public financing system works.&amp;quot; (CNN&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Larry King Live,&amp;quot; 1/24/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FEBRUARY 2007: Barack Obama Petitions The FEC To Clear Way For Deal To Preserve Public Financing For the General Election, Pledging To Do So If He Is The Nominee. &amp;quot;Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, issued an unusual challenge to his rivals on Wednesday. He proposed a voluntary agreement between the two major party nominees that would limit their fund-raising and spending for the general election.&amp;nbsp;... In a Feb. 1 filing with the Federal Election Commission that was made public on Wednesday, Mr. Obama said that he, too, would seek enough private donations to remain competitive, but with a twist. He asked the commission if he could begin soliciting private donations with the understanding that he might later return the money to his contributors. If he won the Democratic nomination, he could then strike a deal with the Republican nominee to return their private donat ions and use only public money for the general election. For 2008, that would limit each general election campaign to about $85 million. &amp;#39;Should both major party nominees elect to receive public funding, this would preserve the public financing system, now in danger of collapse, and facilitate the conduct of campaigns freed from any dependence on private fund-raising,&amp;#39; Mr. Obama&amp;#39;s filing said.&amp;quot; (David K. Kirkpatrick, &amp;quot;Obama Proposes Candidates Limit General Election Spending,&amp;quot; The New York Times, 2/8/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· McCain And Obama Agree To Preserve The Public Financing System. &amp;quot;Senator John McCain joined Senator Barack Obama on Thursday in promising to accept a novel fund-raising truce if each man wins his party&amp;#39;s presidential nomination. The promises by Mr. McCain, Republican of Arizona, and Mr. Obama, Democrat of Illinois, are an effort to resuscitate part of the ailing public financing system for presidential campaigns.&amp;nbsp;... On Thursday, a spokesman for Mr. McCain said that he would take up Mr. Obama on a proposal for an accord between the two major party nominees to rely just on public financing for the general election.&amp;nbsp;... The manager of Mr. McCain&amp;#39;s campaign, Terry Nelson, said he welcomed the decision. &amp;#39;Should John McCain win the Republican nomination, we will agree to accept public financing in the general election, if the Democratic nominee agrees to do the same,&amp;#39; Mr. Nelson said.&amp;quot; (David D. Kirkpatrick, &amp;quot;McCain A nd Obama In Deal On Public Financing,&amp;quot; The New York Times, 3/2/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· The New York Times: &amp;quot;McCain And Obama In Deal On Public Financing.&amp;quot; (David D. Kirkpatrick, &amp;quot;McCain And Obama In Deal On Public Financing,&amp;quot; The New York Times, 3/2/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FEBRUARY 2007: Barack Obama Co-Sponsors Legislation To Keep Current Public Funding System Relevant. &amp;quot;Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) added his name to legislation overhauling the public financing of presidential elections this week, earning him plaudits from watchdog groups.&amp;nbsp;... Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer yesterday urged Obama&amp;#39;s presidential rivals to follow his lead and cosponsor this session&amp;#39;s bill from Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.). It would raise significantly the spending cap for candidates accepting public funds during their White House campaigns in an effort to keep the system relevant.&amp;quot; (Elana Schor, &amp;quot;Obama Co-Signs Bill To Publicly Fund Campaigns,&amp;quot; The Hill, 2/16/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;MARCH 2007: Obama Spokesman Bill Burton Said Barack Obama &amp;quot;Will Aggressively Pursue An Agreement&amp;quot; On Public Financing. BURTON: &amp;quot;If Senator Obama is the nominee, he will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election.&amp;quot; (Jim Kuhnhenn, &amp;quot;Federal Regulators Rule Candidates Can Return Donations For General Election,&amp;quot; The Associated Press, 3/1/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;NOVEMBER 2007: In Response To A Midwest Democracy Network Questionnaire, Barack Obama Said He Would Accept Public Funding In The General Election. Question: &amp;quot;If you are nominated for President in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?&amp;quot; Obama: &amp;quot;Yes. I have been a long-time advocate for public financing of campaigns combined with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, &amp;quot;Presidential Candidate Questionnaire,&amp;quot; Midwest Democracy Network, www.commoncause.org, 11/27/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· Barack Obama Even Referred To His Plan As A &amp;quot;Fundraising Pledge&amp;quot; For His Opponents To Accept. Obama: &amp;quot;In February 2007, I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the public financing system in the 2008 election. My proposal followed announcements by some presidential candidates that they would forgo public financing so they could raise unlimited funds in the general election. The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has already pledged to accept this fundraising pledge.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, &amp;quot;Presidential Candidate Questionnaire,&amp;quot; Midwest Democracy Network, www.commoncause.org, 11/27/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FEBRUARY 2008: Barack Obama Writes An Op-Ed In USA Today Stating That He Would &amp;quot;Aggressively Pursue&amp;quot; An Agreement With The Republican Nominee Guaranteeing &amp;quot;A Publicly Funded General Election In 2008 With Real Spending Limits.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;In 2007, shortly after I became a candidate for president, I asked the Federal Election Commission to clear any regulatory obstacles to a publicly funded general election in 2008 with real spending limits. The commission did that. But this cannot happen without the agreement of the parties&amp;#39; eventual nominees. As I have said, I will aggressively pursue such an agreement if I am my party&amp;#39;s nominee. I do not expect that a workable, effective agreement will be reached overnight. The campaign-finance laws are complex, and filled with loopholes that can render meaningless any agreement that is not solidly constructed.&amp;nbsp;... I propose a meaningful agreement in good faith that results in real spen ding limits. The candidates will have to commit to discouraging cheating by their supporters; to refusing fundraising help to outside groups; and to limiting their own parties to legal forms of involvement. And the agreement may have to address the amounts that Senator McCain, the presumptive nominee of his party, will spend for the general election while the Democratic primary contest continues. In l996, an agreement on spending limits was reached by Sen. John Kerry and Gov. William Weld in their Massachusetts Senate contest. They agreed to limits on overall and personal spending and on a mechanism to account for outside spending. The agreement did not accomplish all these candidates hoped, but they believe that it made a substantial difference in controlling outside groups as well as their own spending. We can have such an agreement this year, and it could hold up. I am committed to seeking such an agreement if that commitment is matched by Senator McCain. When the time co mes, we will talk and our commitment will be tested. I will pass that test, and I hope that the Republican nominee passes his.&amp;quot; (Barack Obama, Op-Ed, &amp;quot;Opposing View: Both Sides Must Agree,&amp;quot; USA Today, 2/20/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FEBRUARY 2008: Barack Obama Says &amp;quot;I Will Sit Down With John McCain&amp;quot; To Address Public Financing. NBC&amp;#39;S TIM RUSSERT: &amp;quot;So you may opt out of public financing. You may break your word.&amp;quot; BARACK OBAMA: &amp;quot;What I -- what I have said is, at the point where I&amp;#39;m the nominee, at the point where it&amp;#39;s appropriate, I will sit down with John McCain and make sure that we have a system that works for everybody.&amp;quot; (Democratic Presidential Debate, Cleveland, OH, 2/26/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· Please Watch Barack Obama Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELoKGvOwSI4&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;APRIL 2008: ABC News&amp;#39; Jake Tapper Reports That Barack Obama Is Previewing Arguments To Opt Out Of The Public Financing System. &amp;quot;Despite his previous pledge to enter into the public financing system should he be the Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has recently been reluctant to re-commit to entering the system. This reluctance has coincided with his primary, caucus, and fundraising successes. For that reluctance, Obama has been hammered as hypocritical by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., not to mention impartial observers. Tonight at a fundraiser in Washington, D.C., at the National Museum of Women in the Arts -- at a $2,300-per-person event for 200 people held before a $1,000-per-person reception for 350 people -- Obama previewed his argument to justify this possible future discarding of a principle.&amp;quot; (Jake Tapper, &amp;quot;Obama Prepares Argument To Discard Public-Financing Principle,&amp;quot; ABC News, 4/8/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· The Washington Post Highlights The Test Confronting Barack Obama: &amp;quot;When it was in Mr. Obama&amp;#39;s interest to present himself as the ethical savior of an imperiled campaign finance system, he was happy to do so, especially since it didn&amp;#39;t seem especially likely at the time that he&amp;#39;d be the nominee. But the real test of a candidate is whether he will stick by an announced principle even when that&amp;#39;s against his own interest. Now Mr. Obama could become the first nominee since Watergate to run a campaign fueled entirely by private money.&amp;quot; (Editorial, &amp;quot;A Lapsed Principle,&amp;quot; The Washington Post, 4/14/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;APRIL 2008: Barack Obama Says &amp;quot;I Have Promised That I Will Sit Down With John McCain And Talk About Can We Preserve A Public System.&amp;quot; FOX NEWS&amp;#39; CHRIS WALLACE:&amp;quot; Wall Street Journal says that you are prepared to run the first privately financed campaign, presidential campaign, since Watergate. True?&amp;quot; OBAMA: Well, look. We&amp;#39;ve done a wonderful job raising money from the grassroots. I&amp;#39;m very proud of the fact that in March -- in February, for example, 90 percent of our donations came over the Internet. Our average donation is $96, and we&amp;#39;ve done an amazing job, I think, mobilizing people to finance our campaigns in small increments. I have promised that I will sit down with John McCain and talk about can we preserve a public system, as long as we are taking into account third party independent expenditures. Because what I don&amp;#39;t intend to do --&amp;quot; (Fox News&amp;#39; &amp;quot;Fox News Sunday,&amp;quot; 4/27/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· Barack Obama: &amp;quot;I Would Be Very Interested In Pursuing Public Financing...&amp;quot; &amp;quot;MR. WALLACE: &amp;quot;If you can get that agreement, you would go for a publicly financed campaign?&amp;quot; OBAMA: &amp;quot;What I don&amp;#39;t intend to do is to allow huge amounts of money to be spent by the RNC, the Republican National Committee, or by organizations like the Swift Boat organization, and just stand there without -- (cross talk).&amp;quot; WALLACE: &amp;quot;But if you get that agreement?&amp;quot; OBAMA: &amp;quot;I would be very interested in pursuing public financing, because I think not every candidate is going to be able to do what I&amp;#39;ve done in this campaign, and I think it&amp;#39;s important to think about future campaigns.&amp;quot; (Fox News&amp;#39; &amp;quot;Fox News Sunday,&amp;quot; 4/27/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· Please Watch Barack Obama Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsOnmKK5j6Y &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;JUNE 2008: Barack Obama Tells The USA Today That He Would Pursue A Public Financing Agreement With John McCain. &amp;quot;On campaign finance. Obama said he&amp;#39;ll accept public financing for his campaign -- which would limit the amount of spending -- only if McCain agrees to curb spending by the Republican National Committee. &amp;#39;I won&amp;#39;t disarm unilaterally,&amp;#39; he said.&amp;quot; (Kathy Kiely, &amp;quot;Obama Reaching Out To The White Working Class,&amp;quot; USA Today, 6/6/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;JUNE 2008: Barack Obama Has Declined Public Financing In The General Election, Calling It A &amp;quot;Broken System.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;In a web video emailed to supporters, Obama asks his supporters to help him &amp;#39;declare our independence from a broken system.&amp;#39; Of course, it&amp;#39;s not so much a broken system that explains why he&amp;#39;s passing on the FEC&amp;#39;s $80+million. He will easily raise more than he could ever get in public funding.&amp;quot; (Jonathan Martin, &amp;quot;Obama Opts Out Of Public Financing,&amp;quot; The Politico&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Jonathan Martin&amp;quot; Blog, www.politico.com, 6/19/08)&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="A Timeline Of Reversal" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/e893b49c-f354-4a76-9d42-56dead971805.htm" rowid="32319980" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Additional Congressional Leaders Endorse John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
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ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced new endorsements from members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

&amp;quot;John McCain is uniting our Party around conservative principles: strong national security, fiscal responsibility and traditional values,&amp;quot; said Congressman Phil Gingrey, M.D. (R-GA). &amp;quot;John McCain has the experience, character and courage we need in our next commander in chief. He&amp;#39;s the best candidate to cut taxes and spending and reform our health care system with free-market solutions. I am proud to support John McCain for president.&amp;quot;

John McCain thanked the House members for his support, stating, &amp;quot;I admire these fine public servants for their commitment to advancing conservative principles and their dedication to our nation and the people they represent. I look forward to working with them toward victory in November, and I am grateful for their support.&amp;quot;

CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS SUPPORTING JOHN MCCAIN
Congressman Phil Gingrey, M.D. (R-GA) 
Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) 
Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE) 
Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) 



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            " title="Additional Congressional Leaders Endorse John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-03-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/1255c65b-4e51-4e5f-98b7-b9523fa1592e.htm" rowid="32319916" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Additional Governors Endorse John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
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ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced six additional governors who have endorsed John McCain for president. 

&amp;quot;Now is the time to unite our party behind John McCain,&amp;quot; said Governor Barbour. &amp;quot;The stakes couldn&amp;#39;t be higher this November. This election will offer voters a clear choice: Democrats&amp;#39; liberal vision for our country versus the Republican Party&amp;#39;s conservative principles of strong national defense, small government and traditional values. John McCain represents those values and I am proud to support him.&amp;quot;

&amp;quot;John McCain is the leader America and our Party needs at this point in our history,&amp;quot; said Governor Perdue. &amp;quot;He has the experience and proven judgment to lead our nation, and John&amp;#39;s broad appeal will lift all Republicans running for office against stiff Democratic competition this November. On Tuesday, as voters in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont head to the polls, we hope they, too, will stand with us in supporting John McCain and rally our party behind our nominee for president.&amp;quot;

&amp;quot;John McCain has already sacrificed more for our country than most of us ever will,&amp;quot; said Governor Jindal. &amp;quot;John is a man of great courage and great fortitude. In these uncertain times, his steadfast commitment to keeping America strong and safe is badly needed.&amp;quot;

&amp;quot;John McCain is a well known fiscal conservative who will bring strong fiscal discipline to Washington,&amp;quot; said Governor Lingle. &amp;quot;He will work hard to cut taxes for all Americans. Senator McCain is a decorated veteran who will make certain that our nation&amp;#39;s veterans are treated fairly after their service to our country. I am very proud to be part of his team.&amp;quot;

&amp;quot;Our nation faces tremendous challenges that require a leader who&amp;#39;s been tested, a leader with character who is guided by traditional values, and a leader with a proven track record of delivering results,&amp;quot; said Governor Riley. &amp;quot;John not only meets, but exceeds each of these criteria. I am honored and proud to endorse John McCain for president.&amp;quot; 

&amp;quot;Senator McCain is a tried and true leader,&amp;quot; said Governor Hoeven. &amp;quot;He is a genuine war hero, having served his country in Vietnam, including five and a half years in a prisoner-of-war camp. In these challenging times, we need a strong leader like John McCain to ensure that Americans are safe both at home and abroad. Domestically, Senator McCain has made a commitment to hold the line on taxes, which is important as this country faces a possible economic slowdown. It&amp;#39;s also important because the American people, not government, should make decisions on how to spend their money.&amp;quot;

John McCain thanked the governors, stating, &amp;quot;Each governor&amp;#39;s tireless service has made a positive difference in their respective state. They have consistently stood up for the best interests of those who put them in office, and have fought to reduce the burden of a heavy-handed government and stood for the values that make our country great. I am proud to have each of them as a member of our team, and I know that their support will go a long way toward a Republican victory in November.&amp;quot; 

ADDITIONAL GOVERNORS FOR JOHN MCCAIN
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour 
North Dakota Governor John Hoeven 
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal 
Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle 
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue 
Alabama Governor Bob Riley 


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            " title="Additional Governors Endorse John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/8e457ebf-5a41-470e-9357-448c535a4364.htm" rowid="32320088" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Additional New York Leaders Endorse John McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced the support of prominent New York leaders. Additionally, the campaign announced that former Congressman Guy Molinari will serve as state Vice-Chair for John McCain.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain has what it takes to lead our country in these challenging times,&amp;quot; said former Congressman Molinari. &amp;quot;He is dedicated to defending the conservative ideals of lower taxes, less government waste, and a strong military. John McCain is the one candidate who can unite our Party for victory in November.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked his campaign leadership in New York, stating, &amp;quot;We have a very strong team in the Empire State. I am proud to have the support of so many dedicated public servants and community and business leaders.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ADDITIONAL NEW YORK LEADERS SUPPORTING JOHN MCCAINState Senator Joe BrunoFormer Secretary of State Randy DanielsFormer State Senator Roy GoodmanCongressman Peter KingState Senator Serf MalteseFormer Congressman Guy MolinariFormer Congresswoman Susan MolinariRepublican State Committee Chairman Joseph N. MondelloState Senator Frank PadavanFormer Congressman Bill PaxonAssembly Republican Leader James Tedisco&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Additional New York Leaders Endorse John McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/fa98d1f4-7689-428d-ae92-a9a711d4e849.htm" rowid="32320106" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Additional Oklahoma Leaders Endorse John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
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ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced the support of prominent Oklahoma leaders. These individuals will be added to Senator McCain&amp;#39;s Oklahoma Steering Committee and join a growing grassroots organization leading up to Oklahoma&amp;#39;s February 5th Primary.  

&amp;quot;John McCain&amp;#39;s conservative convictions and principled leadership are what our nation needs right now. He is the only candidate prepared to be Commander in Chief. Americans and Oklahomans will recognize that with their vote on February 5th,&amp;quot; said Bill Price, former U.S. Attorney and Republican Gubernatorial candidate.

&amp;quot;There has been a surge in Oklahoma business leaders who support John McCain for president. John McCain&amp;#39;s long history of fighting wasteful spending and supporting free market solutions to economic problems make him the best choice for president,&amp;quot; said McCain&amp;#39;s Business Co-Chair, Howard Barnett. Mr. Barnett formerly served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce.  

John McCain thanked his Oklahoma Steering Committee, saying, &amp;quot;I am pleased to have the backing and support of these prominent Republican leaders.  My campaign will benefit from their hard work and energy as we work towards a victory in Oklahoma.&amp;quot;

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE OKLAHOMA STEERING COMMITTEE
Bob Anthony, Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner
Howard Barnett, Co-Chair Business Leaders for McCain, former Secretary of Commerce and Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce
State Senator Brian Bingman, Chair Legislators for McCain 
Steve Edwards, Former Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman
Fred Hall, Co-Chair Business Leaders for McCain, CEO The Fred Jones Companies and Former Chairman of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce 
Bill Price, Chair Attorneys for McCain, Former U.S. Attorney and Republican Nominee for Governor 
Tom Price, Senior Vice President, Chesapeake Energy Corporation 
STATE LEADERS SUPPORTING JOHN MCCAIN
Peter Adamson, Founder, Adams Hall Investment Co.
State Representative Dennis Adkins, Broken Arrow
State Representative Don Armes, Faxon
Denise Bode, Former Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner
John Bode, Attorney, Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC
State Representative Lee Denney, Cushing
Steven Haught, Attorney, Daugherty Fowler Peregrin Haught &amp; Jenson
State Representative Jeff Hickman, Dacoma
State Representative Terry Ingmire, Stillwater
Ken Lackey, CEO, Nordam Group
Larry Lee, CEO, RAM Energy
Fred Leibroch, Attorney, Phillips McFall McCaffrey McVay &amp; Murrah PC 
Ryan Leonard, Attorney, Oklahoma City
Peter Meinig, CEO, HM International, Inc.
Rick Nagel, Partner, Acorn Growth Companies
Gary Paxton, CEO, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group
Bob Peterson, CEO, Melton Trucking
Scott Phillips, CEO, Isocentric, Inc.
David Rainbolt, President &amp; CEO, BancFirst Corp.
State Representative Phil Richardson, Minco
State Representative T.W. Shannon, Lawton
Dick Sias, Oklahoma City Businessman
State Representative John Trebilcock, Broken Arrow

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            " title="Additional Oklahoma Leaders Endorse John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/81bff51a-b413-47ee-acc6-c4c9dcb32270.htm" rowid="32319941" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Additional RNC Members Endorse John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that an additional four Republican National Committee Members have endorsed John McCain for president.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Support for Senator McCain among Republican National Committee Members continues to grow,&amp;quot; said RNC Vice Chairman Chuck Yob. &amp;quot;John McCain will unite our party and ensure that Republicans keep control of the White House in November.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked the RNC members, saying, &amp;quot;I am proud of our team of Republican Party leaders throughout the United States. I am grateful for the support of these four RNC members and look forward to working with them towards victory in November.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Members of the Republican National Committee are automatically seated as delegates at the Republican National Convention.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ADDITIONAL RNC MEMBERS FOR MCCAINRobert Kabel, District of ColumbiaTony Parker, District of Columbia Betsy Werronen, District of ColumbiaGeorge Schiavone, Vermont&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Additional RNC Members Endorse John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-03-04 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/9a5619f5-5122-46bf-95df-512ee0463650.htm" rowid="32319910" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Additional RNC Members Endorse John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
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                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that 19 additional Republican 
National Committee Members have endorsed John McCain for president.

&amp;quot;The Republican Party continues to rally around John McCain,&amp;quot; said RNC Vice Chairman Chuck Yob. &amp;quot;John McCain will 
unite our party, and his broad electoral appeal will lift all Republicans running for office against stiff 
Democratic competition this November. He has shown that he has the experience and tested judgment to lead our 
nation and our Party from his first day in office.&amp;quot;

John McCain thanked the RNC members, saying, &amp;quot;I am grateful for these RNC delegates&amp;#39; support. Their service to our 
party has been admirable and I am proud to have them on my team.&amp;quot;

Members of the Republican National Committee are automatically seated as delegates at the Republican National 
Convention.

ADDITIONAL RNC MEMBERS FOR MCCAIN
Saul Anuzis, Michigan 
Henry Barbour, Mississippi  
Morton Blackwell, Virginia 
James Bopp Jr, Indiana 
Giovanni Cicione, Rhode Island  
Sharon Day, Florida 
Mark Ellis, Maine 
Jim Greer, Florida 
Virginia Haines, New Jersey 
Ray Hoffman, Iowa 
Douglas McKinney, West Virginia 
Cindy Phillips, Mississippi 
Steve Roberts, Iowa 
Steve Robertson, Kentucky 
Katherine Russell, Kentucky 
Bob Schaffer, Colorado 
Paul Senft, Florida 
Robin Smith, Tennessee 
Brian Sullivan, Minnesota 

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            " title="Additional RNC Members Endorse John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-10-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/55906246-b33a-4f7e-bce5-063a79528eca.htm" rowid="32320501" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Address to International Relations Forum in Des Moines
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA&amp;nbsp;-- U.S. Senator John McCain will deliver remarks to an international relations forum at the Des Moines Embassy Club today, Wednesday, October 24th at 6:30 p.m. CDT in Des Moines, Iowa.&amp;nbsp; Below are McCain&amp;#39;s remarks as prepared for delivery: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It is routine for policymakers to focus on the events of the day, and nowhere is this truer than in the Middle East, where we confront immediate crises and challenges.&amp;nbsp; It is imperative, however, that U.S. foreign policy not merely lurch from crisis to crisis, but rather approaches events in the Middle East in strategic fashion, with not only our short term objectives in mind, but our medium and long terms ones as well.&amp;nbsp; It is this strategic approach to the Middle East that I would like to discuss today.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The old Middle Eastern order is gone.&amp;nbsp; The &amp;quot;strategic stability&amp;quot; many Americans thought existed throughout the 1990s was exposed as a myth in the attacks of September 11, 2001.&amp;nbsp; We learned then that our notions of regional power balances, of bonds of friendship among governments that engender peace and stability were necessary, but by no means sufficient.&amp;nbsp; We found that American national security depends critically not only on the assiduous management of regional power, but also on the state of domestic affairs in the countries of the region, including those we consider friends.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Today we face a Middle East that remains fraught with challenges. The defeat of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein regimes, and Iran&amp;#39;s play for regional domination on the back of high world oil prices and a covert nuclear weapons program, creates new power equations in the region.&amp;nbsp; Some of these trends pose a long-term danger to our vital interests, as our allies and our adversaries perceive a weakening of our will in the face of uncertainty about our commitment to victory in Iraq and Afghanistan.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Make no mistake; we have core interests in the Middle East that must be protected.&amp;nbsp; Middle East energy continues to fuel our economy and our allies&amp;#39;, and we remain extremely vulnerable to oil supply shocks.&amp;nbsp; The emergence of terrorist groups and the spread of violent radical ideology in the region and beyond threaten Americans abroad and at home.&amp;nbsp; Shipping lanes vital to global commerce cross the region and we hold the security of our chief regional allies as critical to American global engagement.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The debate over America&amp;#39;s future engagement in Iraq and elsewhere seems increasingly disconnected from larger regional trends.&amp;nbsp; Democrats call for a rapid withdrawal of American forces with no consideration for how this would impact America&amp;#39;s position in Afghanistan, our ability to manage the&amp;nbsp; dangerous challenge from Iran, the stability of the Gulf, and sentiment on the Arab street.&amp;nbsp; We need a new strategic framework in which to think about a region that has drawn us into three major wars in one generation, that produced many of the terrorists now waging a global war against America, and that has seen, in the past year alone, conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Syria.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Recent military successes in Iraq have created new opportunities for a broader strategy that would anchor Iraq in a stable region that is at peace, a region in which Iran&amp;#39;s adventurism is firmly contained, and a region in which economic growth and political liberalization can break up the stagnant nature of many Middle East systems.&amp;nbsp; The first goal must be to create a new regional balance of power to address the rise of Iran&amp;#39;s revolutionary, hegemonic challenge.&amp;nbsp; Elements of this new balance should be:&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;· an Iraq that can rule itself, defend itself, enjoy peaceful relations with its neighbors, and represent all its citizens; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· constructive new leadership by our&amp;nbsp; allies in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan to stabilize Iraq and invest in its future as a functioning, unified state; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· the isolation of Iran, using all the instruments of our and our allies&amp;#39; national power; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· intensified pressure on Syria to decouple it from Tehran and Hezbollah and compel it to make a strategic choice for a new relationship with the Arab states and Israel; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· an Israel that is secure and enjoys peaceful relations with the Palestinians and with all its neighbors; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· the success of Turkey as a vibrant Muslim democracy, a continuing friend and treaty ally of the United States; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· the consolidation of state control and reconstruction in Afghanistan, making it an oasis of stability rather than a magnet for foreign intervention and terrorism; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· a greater role for our democratic friends in Europe and India who share our concerns about jihadist terrorism, state failure, weapons proliferation, and the danger a nuclear Iran poses to our shared interests in the region;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· a new economic and political framework for a dynamic Mediterranean community tying North African economies to the West;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· the launch of a Middle East free trade area to tie all countries that do not sponsor terrorism and who are not involved in nuclear proliferation into greater webs of trade and finance with each other and the global economy, laying the foundation for a prosperous future that encourages reform, innovation, and opportunity rather than the despair on which terrorists prey; and&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· a continuing dialogue with key partners in the region about the benefits of political liberalization.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A failed Iraqi state would create a vacuum at the heart of the Middle East that serves as a breeding ground for terror, exports instability to its neighbors, draws them into its internal conflicts, intensifies Sunni-Shiite rivalry across the region, and enables the expansion of Iran&amp;#39;s influence.&amp;nbsp; By contrast, if, a decade from now, Iraq has a representative government that controls all its territory, has reconstituted its potentially dynamic economy, and has emerged as a constructive regional leader, that Iraq would balance Iranian power and influence neighbors in the direction of liberal reform.&amp;nbsp; That Iraq could prove a more attractive partner to Syria than Iran, decoupling those countries from each other and the dangerous game they are playing in Lebanon and beyond.&amp;nbsp; It would also be an important partner with Turkey as Muslim democracy.&amp;nbsp; Combined with a prosperous North Africa in the west, a progressive Turkey in the north, and the stabilization of Afghanistan in the east, a stable, cohesive Iraq at the center of the Middle East would help that region chart a path of reform and moderation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Obviously, this future will not be easy to achieve.&amp;nbsp; But it should be our goal.&amp;nbsp; Getting there requires many steps, including a major effort to involve Iraq&amp;#39;s constructive neighbors to invest in its success.&amp;nbsp; Today, our allies the Saudis sponsor Sunni insurgents in Iraq in what they view as a proxy struggle against Iranian-backed Shiite militants for control of the country.&amp;nbsp; In so doing, they are hedging against the possibility of our failure in Iraq, rather than contributing to our success.&amp;nbsp; We must demand much more from them in our common goal to contain Iranian influence in Iraq and stabilize it as a unified state.&amp;nbsp; Egypt, a leader in the Arab world, has been missing in action in shaping the course of the new Iraq.&amp;nbsp; I understand that these regimes have concerns about the implications of a Shiite-governed democracy in their midst.&amp;nbsp; But they should understand that the prospect of a failed Iraqi state that exports terrorism, acts as a proxy for Iran, or simply inflames intra-Muslim sectarianism and radicalism, poses a direct threat to their internal security and, indeed, possibly even their survival.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The rise of Iranian power, and America&amp;#39;s renewed commitment to a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, give us more in common with our Arab allies.&amp;nbsp; These shared interests provide the foundation for concerted action throughout the region.&amp;nbsp; With Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the Gulf states, our diplomacy must forge a coalition that links the future of a cohesive, strong Iraq to a broader strategy to prevent the extension of an Iranian sphere of influence into the heart of the Arab world.&amp;nbsp; Such a coalition requires a new American military commitment to the region, in the form of security assurances to our allies, possibly including deterrent commitments to defend them against a nuclear Iran, and in the supply of defense materiel and technologies.&amp;nbsp; Such a coalition may also require intensified American economic assistance to our allies in ways that encourage reform and economic integration with each other and the West.&amp;nbsp; As we work to stabilize Iraq and isolate Iran by strengthening friendly states along its periphery, knitting together our allies in new webs of military and economic cooperation is essential to containing Iranian influence and building the prosperous future that is the surest source of enduring security in the region.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Syria sponsors Baathist insurgents in Iraq, supports extremists in the Palestinian territories, is a conduit for manpower and materiel flowing to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and has been implicated in the assassination of leading political figures in Beirut in an effort to thwart Lebanon&amp;#39;s democratic future.&amp;nbsp; Syria&amp;#39;s national interests seem to run counter to such policies, as breaking out of Tehran&amp;#39;s embrace and enjoying peaceful relations with Israel and its Arab neighbors is a far surer path to security. With our Arab allies, we must change Syria&amp;#39;s calculus in ways that lead it to judge its regional interests differently than it has in recent years.&amp;nbsp; We can do so not through unilateral concessions or unconditional negotiation which minimize our influence but rather by presenting a new package of carrots and sticks.&amp;nbsp; Working with our European allies, this would involve substantial pressures on Damascus should it continue down its present course, including closing down its access to the international banking network, and but also leave open the prospect of closer economic and political ties should Syria pursue a path of reform, make peace with Israel, and end all support for terror.&amp;nbsp; If Syria&amp;#39;s leadership faces no costs for its destructive policies, it will not change course.&amp;nbsp; Making clear that Syria has great incentives to join the region&amp;#39;s constructive partners, but will face greater isolation should it continue its current policies, will aid our efforts to contain Iranian influence, check Hezbollah terror, enhance Israel&amp;#39;s security, and stabilize Iraq.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There can be no secure future for the region without a secure Israel living in peace with neighbors that recognize its right to exist.&amp;nbsp; U.S. policy must ensure that Israel retains its qualitative military edge within a fluctuating regional balance of power characterized by potential nuclear threats from Iran and Syria and their sponsorship of terrorism against Israeli civilians.&amp;nbsp; History shows it is Israeli weakness, not Israeli power, which destabilizes the region by tempting its neighbors to maneuver against it.&amp;nbsp; Only a strong Israel can have the confidence to strike a permanent peace with the Palestinians, a peace I will seek as President.&amp;nbsp; But such a peace can only come when Palestinians abandon terror as an instrument of policy and show a capacity for self-government.&amp;nbsp; Palestinian leaders must be willing and able to make real compromises instead of using maximalist positions to preserve power.&amp;nbsp; The international community must do more than support the status quo, and truly work to build a responsible Palestinian political order.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Turkey is one of America&amp;#39;s most important allies: it is a thriving and progressive Muslim democracy that provides a model for other states struggling with reform and modernization.&amp;nbsp; It is a critical member of NATO that has anchored the stability of Europe&amp;#39;s southern flank for six decades.&amp;nbsp; It is a front-line state on Europe&amp;#39;s border with the Middle East, giving Turkey today a role akin to West Germany during the Cold War, and it shares a border with Iraq, making it key to stability there.&amp;nbsp; As a maturing democracy, however, Washington will have to get use to voices in Ankara that do not always agree with us.&amp;nbsp; Turkey will no longer be a predictable &amp;quot;yes, sir&amp;quot; partner to the United States.&amp;nbsp; But if we work hard at our relationship, Turkey can become an indispensable cornerstone to a new Middle East.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I was disappointed that many in Congress were ready to legislate a historical judgment of the Armenian genocide whatever the cost to our relations with Turkey.&amp;nbsp; Soon after failing to defund the war in Iraq, they could gravely imperil the pivotal role Turkey plays in supplying American forces in Iraq.&amp;nbsp; Turkey is essential to stabilizing Iraq, containing Iranian power, and encouraging economic and political reform in the Arab world.&amp;nbsp; We should be strengthening our partnership, not erecting new barriers to it.&amp;nbsp; Ankara has an equal responsibility to the judgment of history with respect to the events of 1915 and to the project for a new Iraq today.&amp;nbsp; A unilateral, large-scale Turkish military intervention would destabilize northern Iraq and spur the fragmentation Turkey wishes to avoid.&amp;nbsp; At the same time, we must work seriously to rein in PKK terrorism that is a legitimate concern of Turkey.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I would hope that all who remember 9/11 understand that failure in Afghanistan is not an option.&amp;nbsp; The world must stay engaged there as long as it takes to ensure that it does not revert to a Taliban-run terrorist safe haven. &amp;nbsp;Iran is projecting influence in both Afghanistan and Iraq in ways that challenge friendly governments in those countries.&amp;nbsp; Jihadists everywhere draw inspiration from the Taliban&amp;#39;s survival.&amp;nbsp; American credibility, the containment of Iran, and our hope for lasting regional peace demand the Taliban&amp;#39;s permanent defeat.&amp;nbsp; NATO&amp;#39;s future is at stake in Afghanistan, as is the security of the 80 percent of Afghans who voted for a democratic future.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Our military recommitment to Afghanistan must begin with greater troop contributions by NATO members and an end to the limitations that hinder their combat operations.&amp;nbsp; We should intensify our training of the Afghan national army, including inviting Afghanistan to join NATO&amp;#39;s Partnership for Peace to institutionalize our train and equip programs.&amp;nbsp; We must expand our police training programs, provide greater resources for judicial reforms, and work with our partners to boost reconstruction.&amp;nbsp; The international community should set benchmarks for Afghan governance and hold the government to them.&amp;nbsp; We must also strike a new deal with Pakistan that ends the sanctuaries for Taliban and al Qaeda fighters on Pakistani territory.&amp;nbsp; We will not succeed in Afghanistan if our enemies enjoy safe havens, where they will also threaten Pakistan&amp;#39;s own ability to ward off an internal Islamist challenge as well as its neighbor&amp;#39;s.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A new Middle East must encompass reform-minded North African states whose proximity to Europe provides a pathway for rapid economic progress and integration with the West.&amp;nbsp; Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and a Libya truly committed to political reform and an end to terrorism could form the southern tier of a new, energetic Mediterranean community that could also tie Israel, Lebanon, and perhaps Egypt into common markets and institutions with Europe.&amp;nbsp; NATO could forge or expand new security ties with these countries.&amp;nbsp; A Mediterranean economic and political community could help put North African and Levant nations on a fast-track to closer engagement with the West in ways that stabilize the broader region and provide a model for their neighbors.&amp;nbsp; Europe is worried about the problems posed by immigration from this region; the best solution is creating new opportunities within those countries in education and economics.&amp;nbsp; People do not emigrate when they see a bright future for themselves at home.&amp;nbsp; While there have been the beginnings of efforts from NATO, the G8 and the EU, I believe we need to go further with a far greater sense of urgency.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ultimately, what we may need in the Middle East is a security structure, perhaps an institutionalized forum at which security issues can be addressed and rules of behavior hammered out.&amp;nbsp; One model to look at might be the ASEAN association of Southeast Asian countries.&amp;nbsp; Over time, such a forum might engage in arms control, develop norms for regional behavior, and exchange information on borders and transnational security threats.&amp;nbsp; Lessening regional insecurities is a critical first step in preventing a domino effect of the spread of nuclear weapons technology generated by Iran&amp;#39;s own program.&amp;nbsp; Given the deep political fissures in the Middle East, we should not hope for too much too fast from such a structure.&amp;nbsp; Yet some basic security architecture could help stabilize a region still reeling from past conflicts.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;New roles for the EU and NATO in the Mediterranean highlight the importance of increasing our allies&amp;#39; stake in securing a new Middle East.&amp;nbsp; This is particularly true of our friends in Europe and India who share our interests in defeating global terrorism, ensuring security of energy supply, containing Iranian influence, and shaping a new future for a dangerous region on their own doorsteps.&amp;nbsp; We especially welcome France&amp;#39;s new leadership in the region under President Sarkozy, as well as Tony Blair&amp;#39;s leadership on Palestinian institution-building.&amp;nbsp; Beijing also has a critical stake in Middle Eastern energy supplies, which are vital to its continued rapid economic growth.&amp;nbsp; As China matures as a world power, we will expect it to play a role consonant with its responsibilities.&amp;nbsp; These must include delivering Khartoum on a lasting peace in Darfur, reducing arms exports to rogue regimes, and pressuring, not protecting, Tehran from international demands to end its nuclear weapons program.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;With our allies, America should lead in the creation of a Middle East free trade area tying the region&amp;#39;s economies to each other, to the West, and to the dynamic economies of Asia.&amp;nbsp; As we have seen in Lebanon, the expansion of a middle class, nurtured by growing economies, will inevitably create pressures for political reform within autocratic states.&amp;nbsp; It is past time for all people in the region to enjoy the fruits of economic modernity that have transformed Asia, for instance, beyond recognition.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If the United States does not actively promote a new balance of power in the greater Middle East that safeguards our interests and values, others -- including Tehran, Iraqi insurgents, and the terrorists of Hezbollah and al Qaeda -- will fill the vacuum.&amp;nbsp; The grave difficulties we have encountered in Iraq are cause for reflection, but not for retreat.&amp;nbsp; Our allies and adversaries are watching closely.&amp;nbsp; They see our commitment to Iraq as a test of our broader commitment to the region and its security.&amp;nbsp; Tehran would like nothing more than unconditional, high-level negotiations with America on the future of Iraq and the region -- negotiations that would signal that a strong Iran, not a weakened America, is the power of the future which nations must increasingly accommodate -- at our expense.&amp;nbsp; Iran is working to defeat America in Iraq.&amp;nbsp; Any regional conference on Iraq&amp;#39;s future cannot include states that want to destroy, not stabilize, the unified state of Iraq.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The future of the Middle East will be forged by America and our partners in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Afghanistan, and elsewhere -- not by tyrants in Tehran and Damascus, not by the Taliban, and not by jihadists.&amp;nbsp; While we must work to build a new security and economic structure, we cannot ignore the need for our partners to begin the process of political liberalization. Change is inevitable in the Middle East and the failure to recognize it will only lead to greater problems.&amp;nbsp; Prudently managed, reform in the Middle East will lead to greater, not less stability over the long run. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But, in the short run, we can and must prevail in Iraq to build a new regional order on the ashes of the old.&amp;nbsp; Two generations of Americans have already fought wars in Iraq; we cannot condemn a third to the same fate by letting that country become a failed state in which we must again intervene to secure our vital interests.&amp;nbsp; Anchoring Iraq in a stable, prosperous region must be the purpose of American grand strategy in the Middle East.&lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Address to International Relations Forum in Des Moines" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-12-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/9ca3711a-0812-4559-8e11-cb79ff656a64.htm" rowid="32320392" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Aiken Mayor Pro-Tempore Dick Smith Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;COLUMBIA, SC -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Dick Smith, Mayor Pro-Tempore of Aiken, SC, has endorsed John McCain for President of the United States.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;In my life, I have had the distinct opportunity of serving our nation in both the U.S. Marine Corps and the Foreign Service,&amp;quot; said Smith. &amp;quot;Those experiences have brought me to the conclusion that John McCain is the best prepared candidate to lead our nation in these dangerous times.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;After duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, Dick Smith attended Indiana University and the American Institute of Banking in Chicago before joining the U.S. State Department Foreign Service in 1951. He served in the Foreign Service for 29 years, with assignments in Sri Lanka, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Guyana, Egypt, Pakistan and India. In 2001, Mr. Smith was elected to the Aiken City Council. He was re-elected for in 2005. For the past two years, Mr. Smith has served as Mayor Pro-Tempore.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain thanked Mr. Smith saying, &amp;quot;Dick has a distinguished record of service to his community and to our country. I am grateful for his support, and I look forward to working with him in the coming weeks.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Aiken Mayor Pro-Tempore Dick Smith Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-12-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/b11b22aa-32e7-43b6-af5d-7c51f44c19ca.htm" rowid="32320391" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Aiken Mayor Pro-Tempore Dick Smith Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;COLUMBIA, SC -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Dick Smith, Mayor Pro-Tempore of Aiken, SC, has endorsed John McCain for President of the United States.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;In my life, I have had the distinct opportunity of serving our nation in both the U.S. Marine Corps and the Foreign Service,&amp;quot; said Smith. &amp;quot;Those experiences have brought me to the conclusion that John McCain is the best prepared candidate to lead our nation in these dangerous times.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;After duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, Dick Smith attended Indiana University and the American Institute of Banking in Chicago before joining the U.S. State Department Foreign Service in 1951. He served in the Foreign Service for 29 years, with assignments in Sri Lanka, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Guyana, Egypt, Pakistan and India. In 2001, Mr. Smith was elected to the Aiken City Council. He was re-elected for in 2005. For the past two years, Mr. Smith has served as Mayor Pro-Tempore.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain thanked Mr. Smith saying, &amp;quot;Dick has a distinguished record of service to his community and to our country. I am grateful for his support, and I look forward to working with him in the coming weeks.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Aiken Mayor Pro-Tempore Dick Smith Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-03-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/45e68b9c-a8da-41e3-b453-3854d55c0c93.htm" rowid="32320712" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Alabama Leaders Join Growing McCain Team
Senator Byrne &amp; Representative Ward Head Legislative Coalition

                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Alabama state Senator Bradley Byrne and state Representative Cam Ward will serve as the campaign&amp;#39;s legislative chairman and co-chairman in Alabama.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;
Senator Byrne is serving his second term in the Alabama Senate.  Senator Byrne serves on the Finance and Taxation Education; Judiciary; Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Elections; and Education Committees.  Prior to joining the legislature, Senator Byrne served two terms on the Alabama State Board of Education.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; 
&amp;quot;I believe John McCain&amp;#39;s straight talk and bedrock conservative principles are exactly what our nation needs,&amp;quot; Byrne said.  &amp;quot;He is a proven and steadfast leader, and I am proud to add my name to his long list of supporters.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;
Representative Cam Ward was first elected to the Alabama State House in 2002 and currently works as the executive director of the Industrial Development Board of Alabaster.  He previously served as deputy attorney general in the Alabama State Auditor&amp;#39;s Office and later worked in the Alabama Secretary of State&amp;#39;s Office as a confidential assistant to the secretary of state.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;
&amp;quot;In my opinion, John McCain is our party’s best hope for securing conservative leadership in the White House,&amp;quot; said Representative Ward.  &amp;quot;His pro-life, pro-gun record, and his history of championing conservative principles puts him squarely in the mainstream of Alabama voters.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;
Senator John McCain stated that he looked forward to working closely with both men as the Alabama presidential primary nears.  &amp;quot;I am proud to have the support of lawmakers like Senator Byrne and Representative Ward, both of whom have reputations for promoting conservative reform,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain.&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Alabama Leaders Join Growing McCain Team&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;
Senator Byrne &amp; Representative Ward Head Legislati" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-04-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/2d9d29a2-3d7d-41ea-875b-29e3d3c2f7c7.htm" rowid="32320681" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Alabama Mayors Stand With John McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that 21 mayors from across Alabama have agreed to join Alabama Mayors for McCain and help build the campaign&amp;#39;s grassroots network in their communities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The mayors join several members of the Alabama legislature, former Republican Party leaders, and other influential community figures who have already publicly signed on to Senator McCain&amp;#39;s team in the state.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Senator John McCain said he recognized the importance of having local support.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;These local leaders and elected officials have earned the respect and support of voters in communities across Alabama,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;Our campaign will look to each of these mayors for their advice and guidance, and I appreciate their efforts in spreading our message of common sense conservatism.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Alabama Mayors for McCain&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Tommy Joe Alexander - Irondale Tom Bentley - Thorsby David Bradford - Muscle Shoals Jim Cave - Frisco City Terry Clark - East Brewton Harold Crouch - Chatom Sheldon Day - Thomasville Gary Fuller - OpelikaJames Green - Columbia Tim Kant - Fairhope Robert McKay - AshvilleFred McNab - Pinckard Gene Melton - Trussville William Mullins - KinstonReuben Shelley - Headland Bernie Sullivan - Brantley Rhett Taylor - Abbeville Pat Thomas - Dothan James Whitfield - Leeds Jeff Wilson - Margaret Stan Wright - Bayou La Batre &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Alabama Mayors Stand With John McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/6d16f9c9-254f-4047-a89b-0df913ae9ed2.htm" rowid="32320072" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Alabama Newspapers Endorse John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
&lt;p&gt;McCain Is GOP&amp;#39;s Best&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;EditorialThe Selma Times-JournalFebruary 3, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sen. John McCain of Arizona is the only viable Republican candidate running for president who is not cut in the mold of President George Bush, who has surrounded himself with bad advisors, and the country has suffered for it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain is not an extremist. Instead, he is middle-ground, and this makes him attractive as a national leader because he will approach both sides of an issue with an open mind. He has offered a hand of conciliation to develop national policies that are unifying instead of destructive. And, when taking criticism for those actions, he has the courage to stand his ground and articulately discuss the issues and his position, instead of flying into a rage.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain&amp;#39;s character is impeccable. He has demonstrated that strong character by standing against torture of prisoners of war, although he was tortured unmercifully as POW in Vietnam.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The other candidates considered have basic leadership qualities missing in their character, and so much of this election is about character.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, has changed his opinion on major issues so much, that it would be dangerous for him to lead the country. Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, is too extreme. His policies on immigration and his attack on Romney&amp;#39;s religion raises questions of Huckabee&amp;#39;s ability to bring people together as McCain does.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain is a conservative, but he has the strength of conviction and of wanting to take appropriate action. For those reasons, we endorse John McCain in the Republican primary on Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The Selma Times-Journal Editorial: &amp;quot;McCain Is GOP&amp;#39;s Best&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###For President&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;EditorialTimes Daily February 3, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;THE ISSUE&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The TimesDaily Editorial Board presents its recommendations for president in Tuesday&amp;#39;s Democratic and Republican primaries.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Democrat&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sen. Barack Obama is a fresh voice in what has, in many ways, become the tiresome business of electing a national leader. Obama, of Illinois, talks about a nation that is united in common causes, not divided by partisan politics, regions and races. He sees a country many of us were taught in school - one nation whose uniting bonds are stronger than the divisive edges that have been too skillfully exploited in the past 25 years.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Obama holds the promise of being the national &amp;quot;uniter&amp;quot; that President Bush has only given lip service. One of the bedrock themes of his campaign has been to reach across party and philosophical lines to find solutions to the nagging problems that have left this great country in a malaise. Health care, foreign policy and economic issues won&amp;#39;t be resolved without bipartisan agreement, and Obama knows that. To emphasize such common-sense themes in a primary election, when appealing to a party&amp;#39;s base of support is critical, shows that the Illinois senator has a level of maturity that bodes well for the nation should he win the nomination and be elected to the presidency in November.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Obama represents a fresh start for the 21st century and a clean break from the politics of the past 25 years. Though his opponents in the primary all have positive leadership virtues, we believe Obama is clearly the best choice for Democratic voters this Tuesday.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Republican&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sen. John McCain&amp;#39;s conservative credentials have been called into question recently by the more extreme voices of the Republican Party. That&amp;#39;s unfortunate because the Arizona senator is more than just a conservative, he is a principled leader whose first duty is to his country, not to his party.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain has always remained true to the fundamental principles of the GOP, which might be the reason that he seems out of step to latter day conservatives. But that&amp;#39;s what makes him so appealing as a presidential candidate. His sense of duty to his country (which he paid dearly for in a North Vietnamese POW camp) is unshakeable. He understands that the United States is a diverse country requiring a deft touch to govern. McCain has that touch.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He has not been afraid to work with Democrats on issues of critical importance, such as illegal immigration. He understands that little of significance can be accomplished in Congress without a bipartisan approach to the issues. With Congress so closely divided along party lines - and likely to remain in the hands of Democrats for the foreseeable future - McCain&amp;#39;s brand of leadership would be indispensible.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain&amp;#39;s military service also gives him an advantage in these trying times that few candidates can offer. A Navy pilot during the Vietnam War, he has an affinity for the troops and an understanding of defense issues that make him the clear choice for Republican voters.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The Times Daily Editorial: &amp;quot;For President&amp;quot;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Experience Should Earn Clinton, McCain Nominations&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;EditorialDaily HomeFebruary 3, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Experience should matter. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;That&amp;#39;s why we are endorsing Sen. Hillary Clinton for president on the Democratic ticket and Sen. John McCain on the Republican side, in Tuesday&amp;#39;s Alabama primary.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Why Clinton?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Our nation is at a critical crossroads with wars raging in Iraq and Afghanistan and a fragile economy teetering on the edge of decline. Ahead, an aging population will take its toll on an unprepared nation, and the security of that nation faces far too many threats.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Health care costs are continuing to surge, leaving millions of Americans with little alternative but to go without.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It is on those major issues that we base our endorsement of Clinton. We believe she has the right plan for America that convinces us she is the right woman for the job.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;While the words of her opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, may inspire us, it is Clinton&amp;#39;s record of action that inspires us more.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Beginning in Arkansas, where her husband was governor, it was Hillary Clinton who worked both sides of the aisle to get needed bills passed to move that state forward.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;She chaired that state&amp;#39;s education standards committee, which led to the most sweeping reforms in Arkansas history.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Her work over the years on women&amp;#39;s rights, children&amp;#39;s issues and the needs of senior citizens is a lesson in experience that shows her true understanding of the plight of real America. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Her universal health insurance plan covers all who need it while allowing those who are satisfied with their current plan to stay with it. Obama&amp;#39;s plan does not go far enough.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Clinton&amp;#39;s voting record in the Senate on homeland security measures, like cargo inspection for passenger aircraft, and the creation of an oversight group to ensure rights of privacy are protected in this country, underscore her readiness for the presidency.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;She served as first lady during some of the best economic years America has seen. And we believe those years in the White House shaped her view of the presidency and how it can best serve this nation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In Iraq, America needs a way out to let Iraqis stand on their own. Clinton has the plan to do just that, withdrawing troops&amp;nbsp;-- not in a cut and run -- but in a sensible transition of power, rather than an open-ended sacrifice of American lives.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Clinton has the experience, the understanding and the history of action to get the job done. And it is for those reasons we heartily endorse her candidacy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Why McCain?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sen. John McCain, the naval hero whose courage inspires all who hear his story as a tortured prisoner of war in Vietnam, took those instincts of survival and courage to Congress.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Now he wants to take them to the presidency. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;And we think his record of service to country, his principled convictions and his vast experience in both domestic and foreign affairs as a 21-year senator and 4-year congressman should earn him the Republican nomination.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He has not been afraid to take on the status quo, pushing for ethics in campaign finance reform for the nation&amp;#39;s lawmakers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;From the beginning of the war in Iraq, it was McCain who said if Americans go, they should go with full force. And he was right. The Bush Administration&amp;#39;s far less-than-decisive show of force proved costly for American soldiers and the length of this war.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;His fiscal stand on not cutting taxes unless federal spending is under control shows he is not only aware that this country cannot keep running up debt without critical consequences on generations to come, he backs it up with his vote.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain&amp;#39;s leadership in the Senate and his ability to find bi-partisan, common ground cast him in a more presidential light, because it will take that ability to bring opposing factions together to move the country forward.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He takes a realist view of the illegal immigration crisis in this country and supports tighter border security and a guest worker program with a path to citizenship provided they meet stringent requirements.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In this time of a rush to justify the inhumane treatment of prisoners of war, McCain stood strong, calling it torture when it was torture and joining with those across the aisle to condemn it. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;His own experience and his strong defense stands give him the perspective needed to be the commander-in-chief.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;While we may not agree with all of his ideas, the core of McCain&amp;#39;s experience and beliefs makes him the better choice for the presidential nomination in the Republican Primary. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The Daily Home Editorial: &amp;quot;Experience Should Earn Clinton, McCain Nominations&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain, Clinton Best Choices&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;EditorialThe Anniston StarFebruary 1, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The next president can lead us away from the destructive path the current president has placed us on. Or he or she can lead us deeper into a disastrous course of declining economic fortunes, regressive tax policies, diminished civil liberties and misplaced military priorities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The next president must be ready on Day 1 to restore the nation and its people. It will be a long slog. The next president must be up to it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For those reasons ahead of Tuesday&amp;#39;s primary in Alabama and 20 other states, one Republican and one Democrat appear best suited at this point to do the job.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In the Republican Primary&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain, a senator from Arizona, stands out among the field of GOP wannabes who robotically mouth phrases like, &amp;quot;Cut taxes. Beep. Keep Guantanamo open. Beep. Culture of life. Beep.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain the maverick is nobody&amp;#39;s robot.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Among Republicans, he stands out for occasionally breaking out of the politician mold and uttering his convictions regardless of whether they go against his party&amp;#39;s assumed wisdom.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;That&amp;#39;s not to say he&amp;#39;s a perfect candidate or a politician immune to the tricks of the trade. Nor is it to say that this editorial board endorses all of his policy plans.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Despite his bluster on Iraq and the so-called surge, McCain stayed too quiet when it mattered. He heartily endorsed President Bush&amp;#39;s re-election in 2004 even though, as McCain now admits, he knew then that the president and his staff had erred in Iraq. On tax policy, the senator has played word games about his rejection of the 2001 Bush tax cuts. He&amp;#39;s backtracked from his position then that they gave too much to the wealthy and too little to the middle class.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;No other Republican presidential candidate comes close. The only other candidate who has broken out of the mold is Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas. While the pastor-turned-preacher has struck a populist chord at times, Huckabee remains a theocrat with charm and a stunning lack of knowledge of international affairs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain brings vast experience in government, a genuine record of heroism in Vietnam, a demonstrated ability to work across party lines and, yes, a maverick&amp;#39;s streak that often calls them as he sees them.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For these reasons and because of the weakness of the GOP field, Sen. John McCain is the right candidate for Tuesday&amp;#39;s Republican Primary in Alabama.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In the Democratic Primary&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On the Democratic side, the choice is not so simple. In many ways it comes down to a head vs. heart selection.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, has sparked political energy in the country with a speaking style that touches the heart.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Americans long for a president to cut through the fog of partisanship. In these times, the United States could use a healer. Many Americans dream that the senator from Illinois can take them there.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Obama is whistling an optimistic tune, though so far, when compared to his main rivals, it has the substance and specifics of a chewing gum ad jingle.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sen. Hillary Clinton&amp;#39;s tune often is played too mechanically, lacking soul. However, she offers to the nation something else that is needed. She delivers competence, substance and savvy, all of which is seasoned by the hard experience of navigating through the muck-filled swamps of Washington.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Since joining the Senate in 2001, she displayed a knack for getting things done across party lines, just the opposite of what her critics expected.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The country would be well served if her plans for tax fairness and universal health care were accomplished in the same competent manner.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Hillary Clinton is a lightning rod. Polls show that she polarizes a segment of the country. Anyone who witnessed Bill Clinton&amp;#39;s two terms in office doesn&amp;#39;t need a poll to understand that the first lady came under a well-funded and generally unfair assault by smear artists who knew which buttons to push on her natural enemies, often conservative white males.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This is Clinton&amp;#39;s challenge. She can overcome those detractors, just as she&amp;#39;s surprised his detractors in the Senate.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;New York&amp;#39;s junior senator understands policy and knows how to get it implemented. She has the potential to do good things for the country, to take us in a positive direction.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For these reasons, Sen. Hillary Clinton is the right candidate for Tuesday&amp;#39;s Democratic Primary in Alabama.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The Anniston Star Editorial: &amp;quot;McCain, Clinton Best Choices&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Alabama Newspapers Endorse John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-03-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/1ddd43ff-4f2d-4fd5-ac3b-618d0c683fc3.htm" rowid="32320722" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Alabama Representatives Join Team McCainBall, Drake and Faust Stand With Arizona Senator
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential exploratory committee today announced three Republican members of the Alabama House of Representatives added their names to the list of supporters backing the Arizona Senator&amp;#39;s exploratory committee in the state.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Rep. Mike Ball of Huntsville, Rep. Owen Drake of Leeds, and Rep. Joe Faust of Fairhope said Senator McCain&amp;#39;s common sense conservative approach to the issues facing our nation led them to make the decision.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Rep. Ball said Senator McCain&amp;#39;s credibility on issues related to national defense is just one reason he is backing the Arizona Senator.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;In my opinion, John McCain understands the importance of military infrastructure and technological research to our state,&amp;quot; Rep. Ball said.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;Huntsville needs a strong Republican who understands military issues in the White House and I believe that man is John McCain.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Drake, a 32-year veteran and retired Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force cited Senator McCain&amp;#39;s military service and valor for eliciting his support.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain spent his military career protecting the men and women of our nation and being tested as few men are,&amp;quot; Drake said.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;As a fellow veteran, I will be proud to support John McCain.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Joe Faust, a two-term member of the Baldwin County Commission before joining the legislature, said he supports Senator McCain because of his proven, conservative record.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain is the only true Ronald Reagan Republican running for president,&amp;quot; Faust said.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;He shares our conservative Alabama values and I believe his record in public service is one the citizens of our state can support.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Senator John McCain said he appreciated the support of these elected officials.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;These three men are from very different, very diverse parts of Alabama and I appreciate that they&amp;#39;ve come together to support me,&amp;quot; McCain said.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;They are dedicated public servants and I deeply appreciate their words of encouragement.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Alabama Representatives Join Team McCain&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;Ball, Drake and Faust Stand With Arizona Senator&lt;/EM" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-04-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/01465050-c440-4e09-8bae-83d773b85300.htm" rowid="32320661" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Alabama Veterans Support John McCain
Fisher And Day To Lead State Veterans Advisory Committee
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA. - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that United States Marine Corps veteran Don Fisher and Veterans of Foreign Wars State Commander Roland Day have joined the Arizona Senator&amp;#39;s team and will chair his 65-member Veterans Advisory Committee in Alabama.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In addition, Charles Ingram, a retired U.S. Army Major General of Troy, and Hal Pierce of Daphne, a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy, will serve as regional vice-chairs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Fisher, who also serves on the Veterans for McCain national steering committee, has a background in building coalitions from having served as the statewide grassroots coordinator for Gov. Bob Riley&amp;#39;s 2006 re-election campaign and regional coordinator for his 2002 effort.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain&amp;#39;s military record proves he has the courage, wisdom, and judgment that are needed to serve as our nation&amp;#39;s Commander-In-Chief,&amp;quot; said Fisher. &amp;quot;I&amp;#39;m proud to join my fellow veterans in supporting his candidacy and building a grassroots network across the state.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;VFW Commander Ronald Day, another national steering committee member, said Senator McCain&amp;#39;s experience and long record of service to his country make him uniquely qualified to serve as president.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Few men have served their country as admirably or faithfully as John McCain, and his service continues to this day,&amp;quot; said Day. &amp;quot;Veterans across the state tell me every day that they are prepared to support John McCain for president and to thank him for the sacrifices he has made for his country.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Pierce, who served in the Navy for more than 30 years, said McCain&amp;#39;s continuing desire to serve America drew him to support him for president.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;From the Navy, to the U.S. House and Senate John McCain has worked for decades serving his fellow Americans,&amp;quot; Pierce said. &amp;quot;As president, John McCain will continue his strong record of support for veterans.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ingram said his reasons for supporting McCain were simple.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain can be summed up in two words - American hero,&amp;quot; Ingram said. &amp;quot;Our nation has seen few men of his caliber come along in our history and we need him leading our country at this time.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Senator John McCain said he was proud to have the support of veterans in Alabama, and across the nation, and thanked them for their commitment and military service.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;These men and women have fought and worked to spread freedom and democracy around the world and I can never thank them enough for their service,&amp;quot; said Senator John McCain. &amp;quot;I thank them for their support, and our campaign will be looking to them for input and guidance as we continue to build an unrivaled grassroots network in Alabama.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;ALABAMA VETERANS FOR MCCAIN &lt;/p&gt;Corporal Don Fisher Commander Roland Day Major General Charles Ingram Captain Hal Pierce Staff Sergeant Dave AlveyChief Petty Officer Billy AtkinsonSergeant Rep. Mike Ball Colonel Walter Ballard Platoon Sergeant Stanley BatemonColonel Ray Bean Colonel Joe BrindelliStaff Sergeant Norm BrooksPetty Officer First Class Hank BryanColonel Joe Cassidy Captain K.T. Cole Ryan Cole Captain Bryan ColemanSergeant Jerry Conner Chief Petty Officer Jack CrowleyMaster Sergeant Larry Dean Judge Advocate Wayne Dial Colonel Harold Dobbs Colonel Patrick Downing Chief Master Sergeant Owen DrakeSergeant First Class Wiley Duncan Lieutenant Colonel Alan Enslen Staff Sergeant Larry Fetner Colonel Glenn Frasier Captain Christopher Frost Sergeant Al Gentry Lieutenant James Goyer Master Sergeant James GreenCommand Sergeant Major Virgil GreenJohn Hancock Command Sergeant Major Lester KapelkaTech. Sergeant Lewis Kelly Colonel Bob Lily Colonel Herb Lockett Private First Class Robert MaxellLieutenant Jim McClendonColonel Rick McDow Sergeant James McGogh Sergeant First Class Charles MottJames Mulkey Major John New General Ron Nolin Lieutenant Kevin Patton Petty Officer Bill Pitt Sergeant First Class Ed Pritchard Colonel Dave Raney Commander Pete Riehm Dave RileyChief Petty Officer Jack Roberts Captain Shirrell Roberts Ken Rollins Captain Tim RussellPetty Officer Tom SchwartzColonel Hobbie Sealy Captain Edward Sledge Lieutenant Colonel Pete SteeleColonel Phillip Tip Del TullSergeant James Ward, Sr. VFW Chaplin Eddie Waters Senior Master Sergeant Travis Whaley&lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Alabama Veterans Support John McCain&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;
Fisher And Day To Lead State Veterans Advisory Committ" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-03-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/f181d69f-c11a-4e2a-9946-ec438faf473f.htm" rowid="32320709" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Alan Cropsey Joins Supporters Of McCainLegislator To Serve As Co-Chair Of The Americans Of Faith Coalition In Michigan
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced Senator Alan Cropsey will support the Arizona Senator&amp;#39;s presidential candidacy.&amp;nbsp; In addition, Cropsey will serve as co-chair of the Americans of Faith coalition for Senator McCain in Michigan.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Alan Cropsey has served the state of Michigan for over 25 years.&amp;nbsp; Cropsey began his impressive career in 1979 when he was first elected to the Michigan legislature.&amp;nbsp; Currently, he represents the 33rd District in the Michigan Senate and chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Senator Cropsey was one of the initial members of the Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners and is a leading advocate for life in the state Senate.&amp;nbsp; Cropsey held a prominent role in the 2004 Michigan amendment to define marriage as between a man and woman.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Senator McCain shares my passion for nominating constructionists that strictly interpret the Constitution, not legislate from the bench,&amp;quot; said Cropsey.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;I&amp;#39;m honored to support him and I look forward to spreading his conservative message throughout the state.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Attorney General Mike Cox continued, &amp;quot;Senator McCain is an American hero whose common sense conservative values resonate with leaders in Michigan.&amp;nbsp; We all look forward to working with him on his road to the White House.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Senator John McCain expressed gratitude for Alan Cropsey&amp;#39;s leadership in Michigan.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;Alan is a deeply dedicated public servant and I&amp;#39;m honored to have his support and counsel,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain. &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Alan Cropsey Joins Supporters Of McCain&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;Legislator To Serve As Co-Chair Of The Americans Of F" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-02-07 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/f8f8c14f-36f5-4fe3-b5d4-df21138894fa.htm" rowid="32320760" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            ALGOP Executive Director Joins Team McCainRepublican Party&amp;#39;s State Field Director Also Aligns With Arizona Senator
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential exploratory committee today announced Alabama Republican Party Executive Director Tim Howe is leaving his post to fill the role of campaign manager for Senator McCain&amp;#39;s exploratory committee in the state.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ALGOP State Field Director Sommer Hawthorne is also leaving the state party to serve the Arizona Senator, where she will hold the same title and responsibilities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;As executive director of the state party, I&amp;#39;ve come to know the heart and soul of Alabama Republicans as well as anyone, and I am convinced that John McCain is the right man to lead our party to victory,&amp;quot; Howe said. &amp;quot;I look forward to helping Senator McCain spread his common sense conservative message to all of the Republicans that I have served over the past few years.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Prior to his tenure with the party, Howe served as campaign manager for Justice Mike Bolin&amp;#39;s successful Supreme Court campaign in 2004. He also served as deputy campaign manager for Justice Harold See during his successful re-election campaign in 2002. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Hawthorne has extensive experience in statewide Republican grassroots politics, including the operation of the Alabama Republican State Executive Committee. Prior to serving as the state party&amp;#39;s field director, she served as the party&amp;#39;s deputy finance director and assisted in all aspects of the fundraising effort. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The two new staffers will work closely with the exploratory committee&amp;#39;s senior advisors Dax Swatek and David Azbell in directing Senator McCain&amp;#39;s efforts within the state.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Our goal is to put together an effective team that has proven it can win in Alabama,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain. &amp;quot;With two of the Alabama Republican Party&amp;#39;s highest and most capable officials joining veterans of Gov. Riley&amp;#39;s successful campaigns, I am confident we are on the right track.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="ALGOP Executive Director Joins Team McCain&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;Republican Party's State Field Director Also Align" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-27 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/aaac4f24-3024-4373-a81d-c0e4e6d5e606.htm" rowid="32320165" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Ambassador Otto Juan Reich Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        


&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Ambassador Otto Juan Reich has endorsed John McCain for president.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain has my support for the presidency because of his commitment to the people of Florida and to those who yearn for freedom,&amp;quot; said Ambassador Reich. &amp;quot;No one has more national security experience than John McCain, I know he is the best person to keep us safe at home and abroad, and I am proud to support him for president.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked Ambassador Reich, saying, &amp;quot;Ambassador Reich has served America with distinction by representing our fundamental values of freedom and democracy around the world, and I am grateful for his support.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Otto Juan Reich was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs in 2002, and served as President Bush&amp;#39;s Special Envoy for Western Hemisphere Initiatives until 2004. He has spent over 30 years in international affairs, government, private enterprise, and the U.S. military. From 1986 to 1989, he served as Ambassador to Venezuela. Ambassador Reich has previously served as Special Adviser to the Secretary of State and Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. At the request of President George H.W. Bush, Ambassador Reich served as Alternate U.S. Representative to the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva. Ambassador Reich has also been a Director of numerous private and non-profit corporations.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ambassador Reich also served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army (1967-1969) in the 3rd Civil Affairs Detachment (Airborne), Panama Canal Zone. He received a Bachelor&amp;#39;s degree in International Studies from the University of North Carolina and a Master&amp;#39;s degree in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University.&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Ambassador Otto Juan Reich Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-19 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/2140c123-1d63-4dce-adcf-91eb697efd86.htm" rowid="32319739" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            America in the Global Economy
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
Today, In Chicago, John McCain Addressed His Vision For Ensuring America&amp;#39;s Economic 
Preeminence In The Global Economy. John McCain will promote a strong and growing economy &amp;ndash; an 
economy that creates jobs, increases wages, and helps American workers compete with rivals in any 
market in the world. He will pursue an economic agenda that places the need for low taxes, fiscal 
discipline, and economic opportunity for Americans above the special interests. His vision stands in stark 
contrast to that of Senator Obama who promises higher taxes, higher spending, and isolationism  from 
the global economy. 

Expanding Opportunities In A Global Economy: 

John McCain Will Fight To Ensure American Workers Continue To Benefit From Exports To Other 
Countries. American workers make and sell about $200 billion in heavy machinery to other countries 
every year. Our workers export more than $70 billion in aircraft and parts, more than $148 billion in 
electrical machinery and equipment, and $106 billion in cars, trucks, and other vehicles. In all, one in 
every five American jobs depends on factory exports. 

John McCain&amp;#39;s Plan For Global Trade Offers New Opportunities For Small Businesses And Higher 
Wages For American Workers. Exports are essential to American workers and employers across our 
nation: 

Illinois: Illinois is the fifth largest exporting state. Its merchandise exports have almost doubled since 
2002, hitting $48.7 billion last year. Top products include Machinery ($12.7 billion); Transportation 
Equipment ($7.5 billion); Chemicals ($6.2 billion); Computers &amp;amp; Electronics ($5.8 billion); and 
Appliances ($2.6 billion). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) generated nearly one-quarter 
(23 percent) of Illinois&amp;#39; total exports of merchandise in 2005.  A total of 13,891 companies exported 
goods from Illinois locations in 2005. Of those, 12,359 (89 percent) were SMEs, with fewer than 500 
employees 

California: California is the second largest exporting state. Its merchandise exports have almost 
increased 45 percent since 2002, hitting $134.2 billion last year. Top products include Computers &amp;amp; 
Electronics ($43.7 billion); Machinery ($14.5 billion); Transportation Equipment ($13.7 billion); 
Chemicals ($10.4 billion); and Agriculture ($6.7 billion). Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) 
generated more than two-fifths (43 percent) of California&amp;#39;s total exports of merchandise in 2005. A 
total of 51,466 companies exported goods from California locations in 2005. Of those, 49,148 (95 
percent) were SMEs, with fewer than 500 employees. 

Florida: Florida is the sixth largest exporting state. Its merchandise exports have almost doubled 
since 2002, hitting $44.8 billion last year. Top products include Computers &amp;amp; Electronic Products 
($12.2 billion); Transportation Equipment ($7.2 billion); Machinery ($5.1 billion); Chemicals ($4.7 
billion); and Appliances ($1.7 billion). Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) generated nearly 
two-thirds (61 percent) of Florida&amp;#39;s total exports of merchandise in 2005 &amp;ndash; the highest of all 50 states. 
A total of 28,524 companies exported goods from Florida locations in 2005. Of those, 27,048 (95 
percent) were SMEs, with fewer than 500 employees. 

Honoring Trade Agreements With Key Allies: 

John McCain Is Committed To Pursuing Free Trade Agreements With Our World Trading Partners. 
As president, he will pursue multilateral, regional and bilateral efforts to reduce trade barriers, level the 
global playing field and build effective enforcement of global trading rules. Senator Obama has pledged to 
abrogate our trade commitments, and unsettle the ability of American workers to sell their goods abroad. 

John McCain Will Push To Ratify The Colombia Free Trade Agreement. American exporters now pay 
an extra $3.5 million in tariffs each day because we don&amp;#39;t have a completed trade agreement with 
Colombia. Colombia is a friend and crucial democratic ally. The stability of Colombia is more critical than 
ever as others in the region seek to turn Latin America away from democracy and away from our country. 
Trade serves all of these national interests, and the interests of the American economy as well. This 
agreement is currently being held up in the Senate, in part through the efforts of Senator Obama. 

John McCain Supports A Free Trade Agreement With South Korea. America exports nearly $50 
billion in goods to South Korea, a key ally that deployed the third-largest contingent of troops to Iraq, and 
assisted in the rebuilding of Afghanistan. Senator Obama opposes ratifying this agreement, and would 
turn our nation&amp;#39;s back on this commitment to a key ally and trade partner. 

Senator Obama&amp;#39;s Habit Of Talking Down The Value Of America&amp;#39;s Exports And Trade Agreements 
Harkens To &amp;quot;Old-Style Politics.&amp;quot; Senator Obama has proposed a unilateral re-negotiation of NAFTA &amp;ndash; 
an agreement that accounts for 33 percent of American exports. This is bad judgment and a bit 
inconsistent. Senator Obama scolds others for engaging in the &amp;quot;old-style politics,&amp;quot; but playing on fears of 
foreign trade is resorting to the oldest kind of politics there is. 

Helping American Workers In The Global Economy: 

John McCain Is Committed To Reforming Worker Assistance Programs. John McCain understands 
there are vast benefits of a global marketplace, but they come at a cost for many, and we have an 
obligation to help our workers receive the training they need when plants close and jobs are lost. We 
have to help displaced workers at every turn on a tough road, so that they are not just spectators on the 
opportunities of others. John McCain has made a commitment with reforms to expand and improve 
federal aid to American workers in need. 

Pursuing A Responsible Agricultural Policy: 

John McCain Will Seek An End To All Agricultural Tariffs, And To All Farm Subsidies That Are Not 
Based On Clear Need. He will veto any bill containing special-interest favors and corporate welfare in 
any form.  As President, John McCain will base our farm policy on the common good, with policies that 
help our small farmers to succeed, and our rural communities to survive and flourish once again. 

John McCain Will Open Foreign Markets Across The World To American Farmers. The biggest 
obstacle to this goal, however, is not to be found in any foreign market, or in the policies of any other 
government. It&amp;#39;s in the United States Congress, in the billions of dollars in subsidies served up every five 
years to corporate farmers. 

John McCain Opposes The $300 Billion Farm Bill. Unlike Senator Obama, John McCain opposes 
providing billions to subsidize large commercial farms with an average income of $200,000, and an 
average net worth of $2 million while American workers and taxpayers struggle to buy food, because of 
rising prices. 

                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="America in the Global Economy" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/abc114c1-bddb-46a3-b607-250a9bbc5a40.htm" rowid="32320172" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Arizona Leaders Join Supporters Of John McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today released its Arizona Leadership Team. The leadership team will contribute to the growing grassroots organization on behalf of John McCain&amp;#39;s candidacy in the state. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;I am proud to stand with my colleague and friend John McCain in his candidacy for president,&amp;quot; said Senator Jon Kyl, Chair of Senator McCain&amp;#39;s Arizona campaign. &amp;quot;Senator McCain has a twenty-five year record of fighting for the people of Arizona. I look forward to continuing to work with Arizona leaders to promote Senator McCain&amp;#39;s message all over the state.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked the Arizona leaders, stating, &amp;quot;I am excited to have the support of so many fellow Arizonans and look forward to working with them toward victory on February 5th.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;JOHN MCCAIN 2008 ARIZONA LEADERSHIP TEAM&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Chair &lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;Jon Kyl, U.S. Senator and Senate Minority Whip&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Co-Chairs &lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;Betsey Bayless, Former Arizona Secretary of State and Maricopa County Supervisor &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Tim Bee, Arizona Senate President&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jan Brewer, Arizona Secretary of State &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jeff Flake, United States Representative, 6th District &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Mike Gleason, Arizona Corporation Commissioner &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Joe Hart, Arizona State Mine Inspector &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jeff Hatch-Miller, Arizona Corporation Commissioner &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Mike Hellon, Former Arizona Republican Party Chairman and Republican National Committeeman &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Tom Horne, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jane D. Hull, Former Arizona Governor &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Lisa Graham Keegan, Former Superintendent of Public Instruction &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jim Kolbe, Former United States Representative &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Burton Kruglick, Former Arizona Republican Party Chairman &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Kris Mayes, Arizona Corporation Commissioner &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Mike Minnaugh, Former Arizona Republican Party Chairman &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;William Mundell, Arizona Corporation Commissioner &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;John Munger, Former Arizona Republican Party Chairman &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Gary Pierce, Arizona Corporation Commissioner &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Matt Salmon, Former United States Representative &amp;amp; Arizona Republican Party Chairman &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;John Shadegg, United States Representative, 3rd District &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Fife Symington, Former Arizona Governor &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jim Weiers, Arizona Speaker of the House of Representatives &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Grant Woods, Former Arizona Attorney General &lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;Campaign Co-Leaders &lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;Kurt Davis, Former Executive Director, Arizona Republican Party &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Wes Gullett, Former McCain State Director &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Campaign Leadership Team&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;State Senator Carolyn Allen &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Lisa Atkins, Litchfield Park &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Bruce Ash, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former State Representative Stan Barnes &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Eddie Basha, Chandler &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Trey Basha, Chandler &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former State Senate President Ken Bennett &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Senator Robert Blendu &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Jennifer Burns &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former State Senator Robert Cannell &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Doug Cole, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;J. Charles Coughlin, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Maricopa County Integrated Health System Board Member Mike Cowley &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Pima County Supervisor Ann Day &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Marcus Dell&amp;#39;Artino, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Flagstaff Mayor Joe Donaldson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Senator Jake Flake &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Max Fose, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former State Representative Deb Gullett &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Senator Tom O&amp;#39;Halleran &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Anne Hamilton, Mesa &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jay Heiler, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Pete Herder, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Pete Hershberger &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Senator John Huppenthal &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former State Senator John Kaites &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former State Representative Laura Knaperek &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Bill Konopnicki &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Rick Krug, Flagstaff &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Maricopa County Supervisor Andrew Kunasek &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former Maricopa County GOP Chairman Tom Liddy &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Lucy Mason &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former Corporation Commissioner Diane McCarthy &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Marian McClure &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative John McComish &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Maricopa County Integrated Health System Board Member Paulina Morris &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative John Nelson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Sean Noble, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Clerk of the Superior Court Pima County Patty Noland &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Michele Reagan &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Bob Robson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former Maricopa County Attorney Richard Romley &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former Page Mayor Gary Scaramazzo &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Bob Stump &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Sierra Vista Mayor Bob Strain &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Yavapai County Supervisor Tom Thurman &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Senator Jay Tibshraeny &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Andy Tobin &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Phil Townsend, Mesa &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Senator Jim Waring &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Maricopa County Supervisor Max Wilson &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Finance Committee Leaders &lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;Bettina Nava, Finance Director &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Andrea Evans, Finance Coordinator &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Arizona Finance Committee &lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;Joe Abate, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Robyn &amp;amp; Robert Anderson, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Bruce Ash, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Paul Baker, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Reginald M. Ballantyne, III,&amp;nbsp;Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Lisa &amp;amp; Stan Barnes, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Ron Barness,&amp;nbsp;Paradise Valley &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Dawna &amp;amp; Johnny Basha, Chandler &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Eddie Basha, Chandler &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Edward Basha, III,&amp;nbsp;Chandler &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Leslie &amp;amp; Dave Berry, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Steve Betts &amp;amp; Diane Haller, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Michael Bidwill, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jim Binns, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Rich Boals, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;John Bouma, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Drew Brown, Paradise Valley &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Kathy &amp;amp; Ron Brown, Paradise Valley &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Robert Burns, Mesa &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Ben Campbell, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Mark Chadwick, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Herman Chanen, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Steven Chanen, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Susan &amp;amp; Paul Charlton, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jim Click, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Connie &amp;amp; Hugh Coble, Sedona &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Joan &amp;amp; Jerry Colangelo, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Bert Coleman, Phoenix&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Dr. Andrei Damian, Paradise Valley&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jack Davis, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Kurt Davis, Flagstaff &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Denise &amp;amp; Bob Delgado, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;David Dewar, Tempe &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Don Diamond, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Karie &amp;amp; Richard Dozer, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Doug Ducey, Scottsdale &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Grace &amp;amp; Clyde Edgar, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Max Fose, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Ira Fulton, Tempa &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Samuel Garvin, Paradise Valley &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Dyan &amp;amp; George Getz, Scottsdale&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;David Goldstein, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;The Gomez Family, Paradise Valley &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;John Graham, Scottsdale &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Michael Preston Green, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Deb &amp;amp; Wes Gullett, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Sharon &amp;amp; Oliver Harper, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Sally &amp;amp; Tom Hartley, Scottsdale &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Michael Hellon, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Steve Hilton, Scottsdale &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Gary Husk, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Donald Isaacson, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Christine Jones, Scottsdale &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;John Kaites, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Michael Kasser, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Lisa Keegan, Peoria &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;William Kelley, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Earl &amp;quot;Ken&amp;quot; Kendrick, Paradise Valley&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Dawn &amp;amp; Mike Kennedy, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;David Khalaj, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;KV Kumar, Scottsdale &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Barton W. LaBelle, Scottsdale&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Bob Lavinia, Paradise Valley&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Larry Lazarus, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Rich Lehmann, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jason LeVecke, Guadalupe &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Humberto Lopez, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Richard Mallery, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Andy McCain, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Pat McGroder, Phoenix&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Cathy &amp;amp; Dave McIntyre, Scottsdale &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Mike Meehan, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jeff Moorad, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Pamela &amp;amp; Phil Morris, Sedona &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jerry Moyes, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;John F. Munger, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Francis Najafi, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jackie Norton, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Chris Palacios, Scottsdale &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Douglas Parker, Paradise Valley &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Bill Perciballi, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;William Post, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Patrick Quinn, Scottsdale &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Michael Racy, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Terry &amp;amp; Steve Roman, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Sid Rosen, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Michael Rusing, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Matt Salmon, Mesa &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Steven Schwarz, Paradise Valley &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Lex Sears, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jeff Shumway, Scottsdale &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;John Strittmatter, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Sue &amp;amp; Jay Stuckey, Sedona &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Thomas W. Sullivan, Tucson &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Honorable Fife Symington, Paradise Valley &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Shiree Verdone, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Brad Vynalek, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;George Weisz, Scottsdale &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Noreen &amp;amp; Malachy Wienges, Sedona &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Dennis Wilenchik, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Helen &amp;amp; Al Wolfe, Sedona &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Grant Woods, Phoenix &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                
                                            
                                        
                                    
                            
                        
                    
                
            
        
    

                  
                
              
            
            " title="Arizona Leaders Join Supporters Of John McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-06-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/8ecbb27c-e95c-42d4-87e4-6bf8eb0a57c0.htm" rowid="32320601" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Arizona Leaders Stand With Senator McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA&amp;nbsp;- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s campaign today announced additional members of the Arizona Senator&amp;#39;s campaign leadership team in his home state. The influential team is led by Senator Jon Kyl and will continue to build on Senator McCain&amp;#39;s Arizona organization. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;State Senator Jake Flake has served in the state Senate since 2004. Prior to serving in the Senate, he was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives and served as Speaker of the House. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Flake spoke to Senator McCain&amp;#39;s principled leadership. &amp;quot;Senator McCain is not afraid to stand up for what he believes is in the best interests of the people of Arizona and the United States,&amp;quot; said Senator Flake. &amp;quot;John McCain is a proven conservative reformer who has never wavered in his stances on the issues that matter most.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;State Representative Bob Stump serves as chairman of the House Health Committee and as a member of the Financial Institutions and Insurance, and Water and Natural Resources committees. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Stump cited Senator McCain&amp;#39;s experience dealing with national challenges. &amp;quot;Whether it&amp;#39;s protecting our national, economic, or family security, no one is more prepared to take on tough challenges than John McCain,&amp;quot; Rep. Stump said. &amp;quot;I have never seen Senator McCain shrink from taking on a tough issue, and that&amp;#39;s the kind of resolve we need in the Oval Office.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup has served as mayor since 1999. After serving in the U.S. Army, Walkup worked for over thirty-five years as an engineer and executive for Rockwell International, Fairchild Republic, and Hughes Aircraft Company, where he built avionics equipment, military and commercial aircraft, and other national defense systems.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Walkup called Senator McCain a tested, experienced, and principled leader. &amp;quot;I am proud to support our Senator in his quest to become President of the United States,&amp;quot; said Mayor Walkup. &amp;quot;No one has done more to stand by our men and women in uniform, and no one will work harder to protect our nation than John McCain.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Senator John McCain spoke of his appreciation for such an outpouring of support from his fellow Arizonans. &amp;quot;It&amp;#39;s an honor to have the support of such an impressive cross-section of leaders, entrepreneurs, and reformers from my home state,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain. &amp;quot;I look forward to working with my friends and neighbors in Arizona to share my common sense conservative values.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;arizona Leadership Organization&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Campaign Chairman Senator Jon Kyl&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Campaign Leadership Team&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;State Senator Carolyn Allen&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Lisa Atkins&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Bruce Ash&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former State Representative Stan Barnes&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Eddie Basha&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Trey Basha&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former State Senate President Ken Bennett&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Senator Robert Blendu&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Jennifer Burns&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former State Senator Robert Cannell&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Doug Cole&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;J. Charles Coughlin&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Maricopa County Integrated Health System Board Member Mike Cowley&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Kurt Davis&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Pima County Supervisor Ann Day&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Marcus Dell&amp;#39;Artino&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Flagstaff Mayor Joe Donaldson&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Senator Jake Flake&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Max Fose&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former State Representative Deb Gullett&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Wes Gullett&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Senator Tom O&amp;#39;Halleran&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Anne Hamilton&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Jay Heiler&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Pete Herder&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Pete Hershberger&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Senator John Huppenthal&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former State Senator John Kaites&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former State Representative Laura Knaperek&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Bill Konopnicki&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Maricopa County Supervisor Andrew Kunasek&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former Maricopa County GOP Chairman Tom Liddy&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Lucy Mason&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former Corporation Commissioner Diane McCarthy&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Marian McClure&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative John McComish&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Maricopa County Integrated Health System Board Member Paulina Morris&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Bettina Nava&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative John Nelson&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Sean Noble&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Clerk of the Superior Court Pima County Patty Noland&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Michele Reagan&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Bob Robson&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former Maricopa County Attorney Richard Romley&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Former Page Mayor Gary Scaramazzo&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Bob Stump&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Sierra Vista Mayor Bob Strain&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Yavapai County Supervisor Tom Thurman&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Senator Jay Tibshraeny&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Representative Andy Tobin&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Phil Townsend&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;State Senator Jim Waring&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Maricopa County Supervisor Max Wilson&lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                
                                            
                                        
                                    
                            
                        
                    
                
            
        
    

                  
                
              
            
            " title="Arizona Leaders Stand With Senator McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/9d584ef5-7dce-4d6b-bc4a-58844bee3d09.htm" rowid="32320352" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Attorney General Henry McMaster and Adjutant General Stan Spears to Campaign for John McCain: SC Media Advisory

                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            &amp;nbsp;
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        &lt;p&gt;COLUMBIA, SC -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Attorney General Henry McMaster and Adjutant General Stan Spears will campaign for John McCain in Columbia, South Carolina on Monday, January 7th.&lt;/p&gt;

Monday, January 7, 2008

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

WHO:&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Attorney General Henry McMaster and 
&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Adjutant General Stan Spears 

WHAT:&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Speech to First Tuesday Club of Lexington and Richland Counties
WHEN:&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Monday, January 7, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. EST 
&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Press Set Up Time: 11:15 a.m. EST

WHERE:&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Tronco&amp;#39;s at the State Fairgrounds
&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;1200 Rosewood Drive
&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Columbia, South Carolina

                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                
                                            
                                        
                                    
                            
                        
                    
                
            
        
    

                  
                
              
            
            " title="Attorney General Henry McMaster and Adjutant General Stan Spears to Campaign for John McCain: SC Med" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-02-23 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/b086d8de-d9bd-4333-a6ae-6117f597bc90.htm" rowid="32320735" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Attorney General McKenna Joins Team McCainAttorney General Supports McCain&amp;#39;s Record Of Effectiveness
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential exploratory committee today announced that Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna will support the Arizona Senator should he decide to seek the presidency.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McKenna was elected to serve as Washington&amp;#39;s Attorney General in 2004. Before his election as attorney general, McKenna had been elected to three terms on the King County Council and was a lawyer with the law firm Perkins Coie. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McKenna praised Senator McCain&amp;#39;s record of effectiveness.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;John McCain is an impressive leader with a record of public service that&amp;#39;s beyond reproach,&amp;quot; said McKenna.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;He understands the difficult challenges our country faces.&amp;nbsp; He has the experience and fortitude to bring people together for solutions we need.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Senator John McCain spoke of the importance of garnering support from state leaders like McKenna.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;In order to have a meaningful discussion with voters about the choices and challenges ahead, it&amp;#39;s important for me to have thoughtful leaders like Rob on my team,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;He&amp;#39;s a respected public servant and his knowledge of important issues in the state of Washington is going to be invaluable to our effort.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                
                                            
                                        
                                    
                            
                        
                    
                
            
        
    

                  
                
              
            
            " title="Attorney General McKenna Joins Team McCain&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;Attorney General Supports McCain's Record Of Effec" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-25 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/aa79f1e6-55f0-427b-9765-69f7c9ceb442.htm" rowid="32319946" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Bank Lawyers Say McCain Loan Carefully Hewed To Election Laws
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        

&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;The bank does not now have, nor did it ever receive from (McCain&amp;#39;s campaign) committee, a security interest in any certification of matching funds ... Any finding or determination to the contrary would be wholly inconsistent with the language of the loan documents, the intent and understanding of the parties and basic principles of banking, security and uniform commercial code law.&amp;quot; -- Attorneys For Fidelity &amp;amp; Trust&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Bank Lawyers Say McCain Loan Carefully Hewed To Election Laws &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;By Jim Kuhnhenn The Associated PressFebruary 25, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Lawyers for the bank that provided a crucial $4 million line of credit to John McCain&amp;#39;s campaign late last year said Monday that the loan agreement was carefully drafted to give McCain the opportunity to withdraw from public financing during the primary elections. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the outside counsel for Fidelity &amp;amp; Trust Bank said the loan terms specifically excluded from the collateral any potential share of public matching funds the Arizona senator was entitled to receive. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The letter, from lawyers Matthew S. Bergman and Scott E. Thomas to McCain lawyer Trevor Potter, supports McCain&amp;#39;s stance against claims that his withdrawal from public financing is in jeopardy. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The bank&amp;#39;s description of the loan came on the same day the Democratic Party filed a complaint against McCain, calling on campaign finance regulators to investigate whether the likely Republican presidential nominee can legally bypass public financing for the primary and the strict spending limits that come with it. The Federal Election Commission also has asked McCain to explain the loan terms. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Staying in the public financing system could be devastating for McCain because he would have to live within spending limits that he is already on the verge of surpassing. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Federal Election Commission approved, or certified, McCain to receive up to $5.8 million in public matching funds. McCain did not collect any of the money. To withdraw once such funds have been certified, a candidate must not have received any of the money nor encumbered it as collateral for a loan. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;The bank does not now have, nor did it ever receive from (McCain&amp;#39;s campaign) committee, a security interest in any certification of matching funds,&amp;quot; Bergman and Thomas wrote. &amp;quot;Any finding or determination to the contrary would be wholly inconsistent with the language of the loan documents, the intent and understanding of the parties and basic principles of banking, security and uniform commercial code law.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The loan documents specifically state that the collateral did not include McCain&amp;#39;s right to such the public funds. But the agreement with Fidelity &amp;amp; Trust Bank of Bethesda, Md., required him to reapply for matching funds if he withdrew from public financing and lost early primary contests. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;It is our understanding that, to date, none of those events have occurred,&amp;quot; the bank lawyers wrote. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But FEC Chairman David Mason, in a letter to McCain last week, said the senator must show that he did not use the promise of future public funds to help secure the loan and asked McCain to explain three specific provisions in the loan agreement. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mason also said McCain must receive approval from four members of the six-member commission before withdrawing from the system. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Such approval is doubtful in the short term because the commission has four vacancies and cannot convene a quorum. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The DNC&amp;#39;s complaint faces a similar obstacle. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Upon receiving a complaint, FEC staffers must notify the target and request a response. They then make a confidential recommendation to the commissioners whether to continue with a full investigation or whether to dismiss the complaint. Without a quorum, the FEC will be unable to make that determination. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The vacancies have not been filled because of a partisan dispute in the Senate. Many Democrats oppose nominee Hans von Spakovsky, a former Justice Department official, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has proposed holding separate, simple majority votes on each nominee. Republicans want all FEC nominees voted on as a package. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain and his lawyer, Potter, a former FEC chairman, have argued that McCain is entitled to turn down the primary matching funds in the same manner that Democratic presidential candidates Richard Gephardt, John Kerry and Howard Dean did in the 2004 primaries. Dean is now chairman of the Democratic National Committee. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain, campaigning in Ohio on Monday, said he hadn&amp;#39;t considered the financial implications of staying in the public financing system. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;I haven&amp;#39;t even contemplated it because we&amp;#39;re doing exactly what Howard Dean did in a previous election and what the FEC ruled in the case of Congressman Gephardt,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;They said they were going to take matching funds and then they withdrew.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In a teleconference with reporters Sunday, DNC general counsel Joe Sandler said McCain&amp;#39;s circumstances are different because of the terms of his loan.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The Associated Press: &amp;quot;Bank Lawyers Say McCain Loan Carefully Hewed To Election Laws&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Bank Lawyers Say McCain Loan Carefully Hewed To Election Laws" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/b52c82fc-5a04-4a7f-9f4f-c3a5f019216a.htm" rowid="32319629" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Barack Obama - A &amp;quot;Poison Pill&amp;quot; To Immigration Reform
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                        ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, McCain spokesman Brian Rogers issued the following statement on Barack Obama&amp;#39;s remarks at the NALEO conference where he conveniently glossed over his record of putting politics ahead of reforming our immigration system:

&amp;quot;It&amp;#39;s quite audacious for Barack Obama to question John McCain&amp;#39;s commitment to immigration reform when it was Obama himself who worked to kill the Senate&amp;#39;s bipartisan immigration reform compromise last year. Barack Obama voted for five &amp;#39;poison pill&amp;#39; amendments designed by special interests to kill the immigration reform deal. These efforts were strongly opposed by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), the Democrat who led the fight for immigration reform, because he understood they would have the effect of ending the bipartisan work toward immigration reform.

&amp;quot;The reality is that Barack Obama has never reached across the aisle to lead in a bipartisan fashion on an issue of major importance to the American people when his own political interests were at risk. The American people are tired of typical politicians like Barack Obama. While John McCain was reaching across the aisle to solve the tough problem of immigration reform, Barack Obama was working for politics as usual in Washington.&amp;quot;

FACT CHECK: Obama Put Politics First And Supported &amp;quot;Poison Pill&amp;quot; Efforts To Kill The Immigration Reform Compromise Last Year

The Weekly Standard&amp;#39;s Fred Barnes: &amp;quot;Obama Professes In Speeches And His Bestselling Book, The Audacity Of Hope, To Rise Above Crass Party Interests. Not This Time.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;Where was Barack Obama? The moment was perfect last week for the Illinois senator and champion of bipartisanship to step forward and help save the compromise immigration bill from a premature death. All he needed to do was switch his vote to oppose an amendment whose passage was going to shatter the Senate coalition that negotiated the bill. By switching, Obama would have substantiated his claim to be a politician eager to reach across the partisan aisle and end the bitter polarization in Washington. But Obama was not heard from. A day later, with the deliberations on the bill in turmoil, Senate majority leader Harry Reid yanked it off the Senate floor. Obama voted with Reid on cloture, which failed, prompting the shutdown. It may be unfair to single ou t Obama for backing a so-called poison pill that would have weakened the proposed temporary worker program (by terminating it after five years). Obama wasn&amp;#39;t alone. Two Democratic presidential candidates--Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden--voted with him, as did Reid, Chuck Schumer, and Dick Durbin, Reid&amp;#39;s colleagues in the Senate Democratic leadership. What made Obama&amp;#39;s vote different was his hypocrisy. The others are hard-core partisans. Obama professes in speeches and his bestselling book, The Audacity of Hope, to rise above crass party interests. Not this time.&amp;quot; (Fred Barnes, &amp;quot;The &amp;#39;Grand Bargain&amp;#39; Comes Undone,&amp;quot; The Weekly Standard, 6/18/07)

Obama Voted For Five &amp;quot;Poison Pill&amp;quot; Amendments Designed To Kill Immigration Reform Compromise:

S.A. 1169 (Bingaman) -- Obama Voted In Favor Of Lowering The Annual Visa Quota For Guest Workers From 400,000 To 200,000. &amp;quot;Bingaman, D-N.M., amendment no. 1169 to the Kennedy, D-Mass., substitute amendment no. 1150. The Bingaman amendment would lower the annual visa quota for guest workers from 400,000 to 200,000 per year.&amp;quot; (S. 1348, CQ Vote #175: Adopted 74-24: R 27-21; D 46-2; I 1-1, 5/23/07, Obama Voted Yea, Kennedy Voted Nay, McCain Did Not Vote)

S.A. 1181 (Dorgan) -- Obama Voted In Favor Of Sunsetting The Guest Worker Visa Program After Five Years. &amp;quot;Dorgan, D-N.D., amendment no. 1181 to the Kennedy, D-Mass., substitute amendment no. 1150. The Dorgan amendment would sunset the temporary guest worker visa program in the bill after five years.&amp;quot; (S. 1348, CQ Vote #178: Rejected 48-49: R 9-38; D 38-10; I 1-1, 5/24/07, Obama Voted Yea, Kennedy Voted Nay, McCain Voted Nay)

S.A. 1202 (Obama) -- Obama Sponsored And Voted In Favor Of An Amendment That Would Sunset The Merit-Based Evaluation System For Immigrants. &amp;quot;Obama, D-Ill., amendment no. 1202 to the Kennedy, D-Mass., substitute amendment no. 1150. The Obama amendment would sunset the merit-based evaluation system for immigrants after five years.&amp;quot; (S. 1348, CQ Vote #200: Rejected 42-55: R 1-47; D 39-8; I 2-0, 6/6/07, Obama Voted Yea, Kennedy Voted Nay, McCain Voted Nay)

S.A. 1267 (Bingaman) -- Obama Proposed And Voted In Favor Of His Amendment That Would Remove The Requirement That &amp;quot;Y&amp;quot; Visa Holders Leave The U.S. For One Year Before Being Able To Renew The Visa. &amp;quot;Bingaman, D-N.M., amendment no. 1267 to the Kennedy, D-Mass., substitute amendment no. 1150. The Bingaman amendment would remove the requirement that &amp;#39;Y&amp;#39; non-immigrant visa holders leave the United States before they are able to renew their visa.&amp;quot; (S. 1348, CQ Vote #189: Rejected 41-57: R 4-44; D 35-13; I 2-0, 6/6/07, Obama Voted Yea, Kennedy Voted Nay, McCain Voted Nay)

S.A. 1316 (Dorgan) -- Obama Voted To Sunset The Y-1 Non-Immigrant Temporary Worker Visa Program After Five Years. &amp;quot;Dorgan, D-N.D., amendment to the Kennedy, D-Mass., substitute amendment. The Dorgan amendment would sunset the Y-1 non-immigrant temporary worker visa program after five years.&amp;quot; (S. 1348, CQ Vote #201: Adopted 49-48: R 11-37; D 37-10; I 1-1, 6/6/07, Obama Voted Yea, Kennedy Voted Nay, McCain Voted Nay)

Obama-Backed Amendments Dealt &amp;quot;Potentially Fatal Blows To The Fragile Coalition Backing The Bill&amp;quot;:

Obama &amp;quot;Backed 11th- Hour Amendments&amp;quot; To The Bipartisan Immigration Bill That Imperiled The Immigration Reform Compromise. &amp;quot;Obama was part of the bipartisan group of senators who began meeting in 2005 on comprehensive immigration reform. But last summer, with the presidential nominating race well under way, Obama backed 11th-hour amendments - supported by labor, immigrant rights, and clergy groups - that Republicans saw as imperiling the fragile compromise. None of those measures passed. But Obama was part of a 49-to-48 majority that voted to end after five years a temporary worker program that had been a cornerstone of the immigration deal. The vote, backed by labor, was seen as a major setback to bipartisan negotiations.&amp;quot; (Ariel Sabar, &amp;quot;For Obama, Bipartisan Aims, Party-Line Votes,&amp;quot; Christian Science Monitor, 4/17/08)

Obama &amp;quot;Voted For One Amendment ... Designed To Insert A Deadly &amp;#39;Poison Pill&amp;#39; Into The Bipartisan &amp;#39;Grand Bargain&amp;#39; On Immigration Reform.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;But then, on the floor of the Senate last week, Obama voted for one amendment - backed by the AFL-CIO and sponsored by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) - designed to insert a deadly &amp;#39;poison pill&amp;#39; into the bipartisan &amp;#39;grand bargain&amp;#39; on immigration reform.&amp;quot; (Mort Kondracke, Op-Ed, &amp;quot;Pandering to Base, 2008 Candidates Risk More Division,&amp;quot; Roll Call, 6/14/07)

Obama Proposed An Amendment That Was Seen As Part Of An Effort To Offer &amp;quot;Potentially Fatal Blows To The Fragile Coalition Backing The Bill.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;They first had turned back a Republican bid to reduce the number of illegal immigrants who could gain lawful status. They later rejected two high-profile Democratic amendments. One would have postponed the bill&amp;#39;s shift to an emphasis on education and skills among visa applicants as opposed to family connections. The other, offered by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., would have ended a new point system for those seeking permanent resident &amp;#39;green cards&amp;#39; after five years rather than 14 years. All three amendments were seen as potentially fatal blows to the fragile coalition backing the bill, which remains under attack from the right and left.&amp;quot; (Charles Babington, &amp;quot;Immigration Deal Survives Senate Challenges, Backers Cautiously Optimistic,&amp;quot; The Associated Press, 6/7/07)

Obama Not Heavily Involved In Bipartisan Immigration Reform Compromise:

Senate Staff Members And Sen. Arlen Specter Recalled That Obama Had Not Been At The Early Legislation-Crafting Meetings He Claimed To Attend. &amp;quot;To Senate staff members, who had been arriving for 7 a.m. negotiating sessions for weeks, it was a galling moment. Those morning sessions had attracted just three to four senators a side, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) recalled, each deeply involved in the issue. Obama was not one of them.&amp;quot; (Shailagh Murray and Jonathan Weisman, &amp;quot;Both Obama And Clinton Embellish Their Roles,&amp;quot; The Washington Post, 3/24/08)

Obama Was Not Heavily Involved In Efforts To Secure Bipartisan Immigration Reform. &amp;quot;He did support the bipartisan effort to get an immigration bill last year, winning a plaudit from McCain. But he didn&amp;#39;t work closely with the White House, as did Sen. Edward Kennedy.&amp;quot; (David Ignatius, Op-Ed, &amp;quot;Obama: A Thin Record For A Bridge Builder,&amp;quot; The Washington Post, 3/2/08)
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            " title="Barack Obama - A &quot;Poison Pill&quot; To Immigration Reform" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-12 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/4281037d-6db1-45ac-a6db-f9e7f5673558.htm" rowid="32319686" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Barack Obama&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Gradual Adjustment&amp;quot; To Higher Gas Prices
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA&amp;nbsp;-- Today, on the fourth day of Barack Obama&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Change That Works For You&amp;quot; tour, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds issued the following statement:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Barack Obama&amp;#39;s assertion that the only problem with higher gas prices is that they&amp;#39;ve gone up too fast&amp;nbsp;-- saying he&amp;#39;d prefer a &amp;#39;gradual&amp;#39; increase instead&amp;nbsp;-- shows how clearly out of touch he is with Americans struggling with record gas prices. At a time when Americans need relief at the pump, Barack Obama&amp;#39;s support for higher gas prices and higher energy taxes is just another example of his weak economic judgment.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This Week In An Interview With CNBC, Barack Obama Said He Would Have Preferred If Higher Gasoline Prices Happened More Gradually:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In An Interview With CNBC, Barack Obama Said He Would Have Preferred A &amp;quot;Gradual&amp;quot; Increase In Gasoline Prices. BARACK OBAMA: &amp;quot;Well, I think that we have been slow to move in a better direction when it comes to energy usage. And the president, frankly, hasn&amp;#39;t had an energy policy. And as a consequence, we&amp;#39;ve been consuming energy as if it&amp;#39;s infinite. We now know that our demand is badly outstripping supply with China and India growing as rapidly as they are. So...&amp;quot; HARWOOD: &amp;quot;So could these high prices help us?&amp;quot; BARACK OBAMA: &amp;quot;I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment. The fact that this is such a shock to American pocketbooks is not a good thing. But if we take some steps right now to help people make the adjustment, first of all by putting more money into their pockets, but also by encouraging the market to adapt to these new circumstances more quickly, particularly US automakers, then I think ultimately, we can come out o f this stronger and have a more efficient energy policy than we do right now.&amp;quot; (CNBC, 6/10/08)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;Watch Barack Obama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gehaf7_TBAs 
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Has Called For Taxing Coal And Natural Gas&amp;nbsp;-- The Two Largest Sources Of Electricity In America:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Told A Texas Newspaper: &amp;quot;What We Ought To Tax Is Dirty Energy, Like Coal And, To A Lesser Extent, Natural Gas.&amp;quot; (&amp;quot;Q&amp;amp;A With Sen. Barack Obama,&amp;quot; San Antonio Express-News, 2/19/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Coal Is The Largest Source Of Electricity In America, Accounting For Nearly 49 Percent Of U.S. Total Net Generation In 2006. (Energy Information Administration Website, www.eia.doe.gov, Accessed 6/9/08)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;&amp;quot;The U.S. Has The World&amp;#39;s Largest Coal Reserves, With The Western U.S. Accounting For 55 Percent Of Current U.S. Coal Production.&amp;quot; (Energy Information Administration Website, tonto.eia.doe.gov, Accessed 6/9/08)
&lt;p&gt;Natural Gas Is The Second Largest Source Of Electricity In America, Accounting For 20 Percent Of U.S. Total Net Generation In 2006. (Energy Information Administration Website, www.eia.doe.gov, Accessed 6/9/08)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;&amp;quot;The U.S. Is The World&amp;#39;s Largest Consumer And Second-Largest Producer Of Natural Gas.&amp;quot; (Energy Information Administration Website, tonto.eia.doe.gov, Accessed 6/9/08)
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Has Called For A $15 Billion A Year Windfall Profits Tax:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Is Proposing A $15 Billion A Year Windfall Profits Tax On Oil Companies. &amp;quot;Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama&amp;#39;s proposal for a windfall profits tax on oil companies could cost $15 billion a year at last year&amp;#39;s profit levels, a campaign adviser said.&amp;nbsp;... Among the options Illinois Senator Obama is mulling is imposing a 20 percent tax on the cost of a barrel of oil above $80, said [Obama adviser Jason] Grumet, who spoke at a conference in Washington today.&amp;quot; (Daniel Whitten, &amp;quot;Obama May Levy $15 Billion Tax On Oil Company Profit,&amp;quot; Bloomberg News, 5/1/08) &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Non-Partisan Congressional Research Service Found That The Windfall Profits Tax Reduced Domestic Oil Production And Increased Our Dependence On Foreign Oil By As Much As 13 Percent. &amp;quot;From 1980 to 1988, the WPT may have reduced domestic oil production anywhere from 1.2% to 8.0% (320 to 1,269 million barrels). Dependence on imported oil grew from between 3% and 13%.&amp;quot; (Salvatore Lazzari, &amp;quot;The Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Of The 1980s: Implications For Current Energy Policy,&amp;quot; Congressional Research Service, 3/9/06)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;The Tax Reduced Domestic Oil Supply And Increased Demand For Imported Oil. &amp;quot;The WPT had the effect of reducing the domestic supply of crude oil below what the supply would have been without the tax. This increased the demand for imported oil and made the United States more dependent upon foreign oil as compared with dependence without a WPT.&amp;quot; (Salvatore Lazzari, &amp;quot;The Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Of The 1980s: Implications For Current Energy Policy,&amp;quot; Congressional Research Service, 3/9/06) 
&amp;nbsp;During The Eight-Year Imposition Of The Windfall Profits Tax, Domestic Oil Output Fell To Its Lowest Level In Two Decades. &amp;quot;Skeptics who want to check the data need to search no further than the eight-year 1980s run of the energy industry windfall profit tax. During that time, domestic oil output fell to its lowest level in two decades.&amp;quot; (Editorial, &amp;quot;A Bleak Future,&amp;quot; Investor&amp;#39;s Business Daily, 5/29/08)
&amp;nbsp;The Wall Street Journal: The Windfall Profits Tax Reduced Domestic Oil Production And Increased Prices At The Pump. &amp;quot;The last time Congress imposed a form of the windfall tax was the final gloomy days of Jimmy Carter, and the result was: a substantial reduction in domestic oil production (about 5%), thus raising the price of gas at the pump; and a 10% increase in U.S. reliance on foreign oil. A windfall profits tax is the ultimate act of economic masochism because it taxes only domestic production, while imports and foreign oil subsidiaries bear almost none of the cost.&amp;quot; (Editorial, &amp;quot;Windfall Accounting Tax,&amp;quot; The Wall Street Journal, 11/30/05)
&amp;nbsp;Heritage&amp;#39;s Ben Lieberman: The Windfall Profits Tax Ended Up Harming Consumers With Increased Energy Prices. &amp;quot;The track record for punitive measures like the windfall profits tax shows that they usually harm consumers along with the targeted industry.&amp;nbsp;... In the end, the tax hurt consumers more through higher energy prices than it helped them through higher tax revenues, which turned out to be far lower than originally predicted because the tax discouraged production.&amp;quot; (Ben Lieberman, &amp;quot;Raising Taxes On Oil Companies Is No Way To Reduce Gas Prices,&amp;quot; www.heritage.org, 3/1/06) 
&lt;p&gt;Obama Plans To Pay For A Number Of His Proposals With The Tax. &amp;quot;The tax would help pay for a $1,000 tax cut for working families, an expansion of the earned- income tax credit and assistance for people who can&amp;#39;t afford their energy bills.&amp;quot; (Daniel Whitten, &amp;quot;Obama May Levy $15 Billion Tax On Oil Company Profit,&amp;quot; Bloomberg News, 5/1/08) &lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;The Congressional Research Service Found That When The Windfall Profits Tax Was Implemented From 1980 To 1988, Gross Revenues Were Significantly Less Than Projected. &amp;quot;The $80 billion in gross revenues generated by the WPT between 1980 and 1988 was significantly less than the $393 billion projected.&amp;quot; (Salvatore Lazzari, &amp;quot;The Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Of The 1980s: Implications for Current Energy Policy,&amp;quot; Congressional Research Service, 3/9/06)
&lt;p&gt;Former Sen. John Breaux (D-LA) Said Obama&amp;#39;s Windfall Profits Tax Is Bad Energy Policy; It &amp;quot;Will Produce Less Energy And Not More.&amp;quot; MSNBC&amp;#39;s Andrea Mitchell: &amp;quot;John Breaux, you are from the oil patch. How do you feel about your candidate talking about a windfall profits tax?&amp;quot; Former Sen. John Breaux (D-LA): &amp;quot;Well a windfall profits tax is not going to produce a single barrel of oil. When we had a windfall profits tax back in the 1980s, we produced less energy than before we had the tax. A windfall profits tax may make you feel good as a punitive measure against the energy companies, but until we get the guys and women who produce the energy working with those that consume it, we are never going to solve the problem. A windfall profits tax will produce less energy and not more.&amp;quot; (MSNBC&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;MSNBC Live,&amp;quot; 6/9/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FLASHBACK: Obama Is Following Jimmy Carter&amp;#39;s Economic Policies, Supporting Higher Taxes During A Time Of Economic Weakness And Imposing A Windfall Profits Tax:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Carter Raised Taxes During An Economic Decline, Which Further Weakened The Economy. &amp;quot;There were two other occasions in recent American history when government raised taxes going into economic decline. Herbert Hoover tried it in the early 1930s; Jimmy Carter tried it in the late 1970s. Carter was the lucky one: He got &amp;#39;only&amp;#39; a deep recession, Hoover got the Great Depression.&amp;quot; (Editorial, &amp;quot;The Gingrich Recipe,&amp;quot; The [Memphis] Commercial Appeal, 9/14/90)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;President Carter Urged Congress To Enact A Windfall Profits Tax &amp;quot;Without Delay.&amp;quot; President Carter: &amp;quot;These [energy independence] efforts will cost money, a lot of money, and that is why Congress must enact the windfall profits tax without delay. It will be money well spent. Unlike the billions of dollars that we ship to foreign countries to pay for foreign oil, these funds will be paid by Americans to Americans. These funds will go to fight, not to increase, inflation and unemployment.&amp;quot; (President Jimmy Carter, Speech, Washington, D.C., 7/15/79)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In The U.S. Senate, Barack Obama Voted For Higher Energy Taxes That Would Have Driven Up The Cost Of Oil And Gas In America:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Obama Voted In Favor Of An Amendment To Add A $32 Billion Tax Hike Package To The CLEAN Energy Act Of 2007. (H.R. 6, CQ Vote #223: Motion Rejected 57-36: R 10-34; D 45-2; I 2-0, 6/21/07, Obama Voted Yea)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;The Tax Hike Would Have Hurt Domestic Oil And Gas Manufacturing. &amp;quot;Meanwhile, most of the revenue-raising offsets in the measure would affect the oil and gas industry, which would lose a deduction for domestic manufacturing and face a new tax on operations in the Gulf of Mexico.&amp;quot; (Richard Rubin, &amp;quot;Baucus Says Energy Tax Package Can Be Revived, But Details Are Sketchy,&amp;quot; Congressional Quarterly Today, 7/10/07)
&amp;nbsp;The Tax Hike Would Have &amp;quot;Contributed To Higher Gasoline Prices.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;[The tax increase] would have excessively burdened oil companies that operate in Louisiana and other oil-producing states. It would have discouraged oil exploration, and contributed to higher gasoline prices.&amp;quot; (Editorial, &amp;quot;A Sensible Energy Policy,&amp;quot; The [New Orleans] Times-Picayune, 6/23/07)
&amp;nbsp;A Heritage Foundation Study Found The Tax Increase Would Have Raised Gas Prices To Over $6 By 2016. &amp;quot;A study by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank showed that the proposed tax increase would boost the average price of regular unleaded gasoline from $3.14 per gallon to $6.40 in 2016.&amp;quot; (S.A. Miller, &amp;quot;Senate Votes To Raise Auto Mileage Standards,&amp;quot; The Washington Times, 6/22/07) 
&lt;p&gt;Obama Voted At Least 3 Times To Impose A Temporary Windfall Profits Tax On Oil Companies. (S. 2020, CQ Vote #339: Motion Rejected 50-48: R 9-45; D 40-3; I 1-0, 11/17/05, Obama Voted Yea; S. 2020, CQ Vote #331: Motion Rejected 35-64: R 0-55; D 34-9; I 1-0, 11/17/05, Obama Voted Yea; S. 2020, CQ Vote #341: Motion Rejected 33-65: R 0-54; D 32-11; I 1-0, 11/17/05, Obama Voted Yea)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In The Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama Voted To Tax Natural Gas Purchased From Out Of State&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2003, Obama Voted To Tax Natural Gas Purchases. &amp;quot;Creates the Gas Use Tax Law. Beginning October 1, 2003, imposes a tax upon the privilege of using in this State gas obtained in a purchase of out-of-state gas at the rate of 2.4 cents per therm [sic] or 5% of the purchase price for the billing period, whichever is the lower rate. Amends the Gas Revenue Tax Act to eliminate an exemption on October 1, 2003 and to provide that beginning with bills issued to customers on and after October 1, 2003, no tax is imposed under the Act on transactions with customers who incur a tax liability under the Gas Use Tax Law. Effective October 1, 2003.&amp;quot; (S.B. 1733, Bill Status, www.ilga.gov, Accessed 2/11/08; S.B. 1733: Concurrence In House Amendment #4, Passed 31-27-00, 5/31/03, Obama Voted Yea)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;The Tax On Natural Gas Purchased Outside Of Illinois Was Estimated To Cost $42 Million Annually To Illinois Businesses, Making It One Of The Largest Increases In Illinois In 2003. &amp;quot;One of the largest increases will be a new 5 percent tax on the sales of natural gas bought from out-of-state suppliers, which could reap $42 million for the state. Virtually every manufacturer in Illinois could face increased costs as a result, business leaders said. But they doubt the increases will produce the revenue Blagojevich is counting on because businesses will move quickly to avoid the new or higher fees and taxes.&amp;quot; (John Schmeltzer, &amp;quot;New Taxes And Fees Are Bad For Business, Industrial Leaders Say,&amp;quot; Chicago Tribune, 6/2/03) 
&amp;nbsp;The Natural Gas Tax Made Natural Gas More Expensive For Industrial Buyers Such As Steel Mills And Other Manufacturers. &amp;quot;The natural gas tax. A new policy under Blagojevich&amp;#39;s budget will make natural gas more expensive to industrial buyers. Currently, Illinois offers an exemption on the sales tax paid for natural gas, but the new budget ends that exemption, a move that could become a major expense for steel mills and other factories that use large quantities of natural gas.&amp;quot; (Kevin McDermott, &amp;quot;Area Dodged Legislative Hit On Schools, Roads,&amp;quot; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/8/03) 
&amp;nbsp;The Natural Gas Tax Threatened Jobs At The Same Time That Illinois Was Leading The Nation In Jobs Lost. &amp;quot;Just as harmful to the state&amp;#39;s economy are the large taxes on natural gas brought from out-of-state suppliers and the rolling stock sales tax. Both of these taxes will negatively affect important businesses as well as the employees who are dependent on these Illinois companies. I have received phone calls and letters from all sectors of the business community who reported that the projected loss of revenues due to these increased taxes and fees may well cause them to close their facilities in Illinois and move to a more business-friendly surrounding state while still serving Illinois customers. Illinois leads the nation in jobs lost. We cannot afford to drive more businesses from our state.&amp;quot; (State Rep. Carolyn Krause, Op-Ed, &amp;quot;Increase Tax Incentives, Not Taxes For Businesses,&amp;quot; Chicago Tribune, 6/13/03) 
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            " title="Barack Obama's &quot;Gradual Adjustment&quot; To Higher Gas Prices" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-10 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/b257bd38-9d40-48b1-b624-9a05661a0ada.htm" rowid="32319692" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Barack Obama&amp;#39;s Agenda For Higher Energy Taxes
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA&amp;nbsp;-- Today, on the second day of Barack Obama&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Change That Works For You&amp;quot; tour, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds issued the following statement:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;At a time when American families face record gas and energy prices, Barack Obama has called for even higher energy taxes. At the center of Barack Obama&amp;#39;s plan is a scheme last tried under Jimmy Carter that only increased our dependence on foreign oil. We shouldn&amp;#39;t expect anything more from a politician who has consistently voted to increase taxes on energy, including natural gas purchases in Illinois. Barack Obama doesn&amp;#39;t understand the American economy and that&amp;#39;s change we just can&amp;#39;t afford.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;BARACK OBAMA&amp;#39;S PLAN TO INCREASE ENERGY TAXES WILL HURT AMERICAN CONSUMERS&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Has Called For Taxing Coal And Natural Gas&amp;nbsp;-- The Two Largest Sources Of Electricity In America:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Told A Texas Newspaper: &amp;quot;What We Ought To Tax Is Dirty Energy, Like Coal And, To A Lesser Extent, Natural Gas.&amp;quot; (&amp;quot;Q&amp;amp;A With Sen. Barack Obama,&amp;quot; San Antonio Express-News, 2/19/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Coal Is The Largest Source Of Electricity In America, Accounting For Nearly 49 Percent Of U.S. Total Net Generation In 2006. (Energy Information Administration Website, www.eia.doe.gov, Accessed 6/9/08)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;&amp;quot;The U.S. Has The World&amp;#39;s Largest Coal Reserves, With The Western U.S. Accounting For 55 Percent Of Current U.S. Coal Production.&amp;quot; (Energy Information Administration Website, tonto.eia.doe.gov, Accessed 6/9/08)
&lt;p&gt;Natural Gas Is The Second Largest Source Of Electricity In America, Accounting For 20 Percent Of U.S. Total Net Generation In 2006. (Energy Information Administration Website, www.eia.doe.gov, Accessed 6/9/08)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;&amp;quot;The U.S. Is The World&amp;#39;s Largest Consumer And Second-Largest Producer Of Natural Gas.&amp;quot; (Energy Information Administration Website, tonto.eia.doe.gov, Accessed 6/9/08)
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Has Called For A $15 Billion A Year Windfall Profits Tax:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Is Proposing A $15 Billion A Year Windfall Profits Tax On Oil Companies. &amp;quot;Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama&amp;#39;s proposal for a windfall profits tax on oil companies could cost $15 billion a year at last year&amp;#39;s profit levels, a campaign adviser said.&amp;nbsp;... Among the options Illinois Senator Obama is mulling is imposing a 20 percent tax on the cost of a barrel of oil above $80, said [Obama adviser Jason] Grumet, who spoke at a conference in Washington today.&amp;quot; (Daniel Whitten, &amp;quot;Obama May Levy $15 Billion Tax On Oil Company Profit,&amp;quot; Bloomberg News, 5/1/08) &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Non-Partisan Congressional Research Service Found That The Windfall Profits Tax Reduced Domestic Oil Production And Increased Our Dependence On Foreign Oil By As Much As 13 Percent. &amp;quot;From 1980 to 1988, the WPT may have reduced domestic oil production anywhere from 1.2% to 8.0% (320 to 1,269 million barrels). Dependence on imported oil grew from between 3% and 13%.&amp;quot; (Salvatore Lazzari, &amp;quot;The Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Of The 1980s: Implications For Current Energy Policy,&amp;quot; Congressional Research Service, 3/9/06)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;The Tax Reduced Domestic Oil Supply And Increased Demand For Imported Oil. &amp;quot;The WPT had the effect of reducing the domestic supply of crude oil below what the supply would have been without the tax. This increased the demand for imported oil and made the United States more dependent upon foreign oil as compared with dependence without a WPT.&amp;quot; (Salvatore Lazzari, &amp;quot;The Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Of The 1980s: Implications For Current Energy Policy,&amp;quot; Congressional Research Service, 3/9/06) 
&amp;nbsp;During The Eight-Year Imposition Of The Windfall Profits Tax, Domestic Oil Output Fell To Its Lowest Level In Two Decades. &amp;quot;Skeptics who want to check the data need to search no further than the eight-year 1980s run of the energy industry windfall profit tax. During that time, domestic oil output fell to its lowest level in two decades.&amp;quot; (Editorial, &amp;quot;A Bleak Future,&amp;quot; Investor&amp;#39;s Business Daily, 5/29/08)
&amp;nbsp;The Wall Street Journal: The Windfall Profits Tax Reduced Domestic Oil Production And Increased Prices At The Pump. &amp;quot;The last time Congress imposed a form of the windfall tax was the final gloomy days of Jimmy Carter, and the result was: a substantial reduction in domestic oil production (about 5%), thus raising the price of gas at the pump; and a 10% increase in U.S. reliance on foreign oil. A windfall profits tax is the ultimate act of economic masochism because it taxes only domestic production, while imports and foreign oil subsidiaries bear almost none of the cost.&amp;quot; (Editorial, &amp;quot;Windfall Accounting Tax,&amp;quot; The Wall Street Journal, 11/30/05)
&amp;nbsp;Heritage&amp;#39;s Ben Lieberman: The Windfall Profits Tax Ended Up Harming Consumers With Increased Energy Prices. &amp;quot;The track record for punitive measures like the windfall profits tax shows that they usually harm consumers along with the targeted industry.&amp;nbsp;... In the end, the tax hurt consumers more through higher energy prices than it helped them through higher tax revenues, which turned out to be far lower than originally predicted because the tax discouraged production.&amp;quot; (Ben Lieberman, &amp;quot;Raising Taxes On Oil Companies Is No Way To Reduce Gas Prices,&amp;quot; www.heritage.org, 3/1/06) 
&lt;p&gt;Obama Plans To Pay For A Number Of His Proposals With The Tax. &amp;quot;The tax would help pay for a $1,000 tax cut for working families, an expansion of the earned- income tax credit and assistance for people who can&amp;#39;t afford their energy bills.&amp;quot; (Daniel Whitten, &amp;quot;Obama May Levy $15 Billion Tax On Oil Company Profit,&amp;quot; Bloomberg News, 5/1/08) &lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;The Congressional Research Service Found That When The Windfall Profits Tax Was Implemented From 1980 To 1988, Gross Revenues Were Significantly Less Than Projected. &amp;quot;The $80 billion in gross revenues generated by the WPT between 1980 and 1988 was significantly less than the $393 billion projected.&amp;quot; (Salvatore Lazzari, &amp;quot;The Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Of The 1980s: Implications for Current Energy Policy,&amp;quot; Congressional Research Service, 3/9/06)
&lt;p&gt;Former Sen. John Breaux (D-LA) Said Obama&amp;#39;s Windfall Profits Tax Is Bad Energy Policy; It &amp;quot;Will Produce Less Energy And Not More.&amp;quot; MSNBC&amp;#39;s Andrea Mitchell: &amp;quot;John Breaux, you are from the oil patch. How do you feel about your candidate talking about a windfall profits tax?&amp;quot; Former Sen. John Breaux (D-LA): &amp;quot;Well a windfall profits tax is not going to produce a single barrel of oil. When we had a windfall profits tax back in the 1980s, we produced less energy than before we had the tax. A windfall profits tax may make you feel good as a punitive measure against the energy companies, but until we get the guys and women who produce the energy working with those that consume it, we are never going to solve the problem. A windfall profits tax will produce less energy and not more.&amp;quot; (MSNBC&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;MSNBC Live,&amp;quot; 6/9/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;FLASHBACK: Obama Is Following Jimmy Carter&amp;#39;s Economic Policies, Supporting Higher Taxes During A Time Of Economic Weakness And Imposing A Windfall Profits Tax:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Carter Raised Taxes During An Economic Decline, Which Further Weakened The Economy. &amp;quot;There were two other occasions in recent American history when government raised taxes going into economic decline. Herbert Hoover tried it in the early 1930s; Jimmy Carter tried it in the late 1970s. Carter was the lucky one: He got &amp;#39;only&amp;#39; a deep recession, Hoover got the Great Depression.&amp;quot; (Editorial, &amp;quot;The Gingrich Recipe,&amp;quot; The [Memphis] Commercial Appeal, 9/14/90)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;President Carter Urged Congress To Enact A Windfall Profits Tax &amp;quot;Without Delay.&amp;quot; President Carter: &amp;quot;These [energy independence] efforts will cost money, a lot of money, and that is why Congress must enact the windfall profits tax without delay. It will be money well spent. Unlike the billions of dollars that we ship to foreign countries to pay for foreign oil, these funds will be paid by Americans to Americans. These funds will go to fight, not to increase, inflation and unemployment.&amp;quot; (President Jimmy Carter, Speech, Washington, D.C., 7/15/79)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In The U.S. Senate, Barack Obama Voted For Higher Energy Taxes That Would Have Driven Up The Cost Of Oil And Gas In America:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Obama Voted In Favor Of An Amendment To Add A $32 Billion Tax Hike Package To The CLEAN Energy Act Of 2007. (H.R. 6, CQ Vote #223: Motion Rejected 57-36: R 10-34; D 45-2; I 2-0, 6/21/07, Obama Voted Yea)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;The Tax Hike Would Have Hurt Domestic Oil And Gas Manufacturing. &amp;quot;Meanwhile, most of the revenue-raising offsets in the measure would affect the oil and gas industry, which would lose a deduction for domestic manufacturing and face a new tax on operations in the Gulf of Mexico.&amp;quot; (Richard Rubin, &amp;quot;Baucus Says Energy Tax Package Can Be Revived, But Details Are Sketchy,&amp;quot; Congressional Quarterly Today, 7/10/07)
&amp;nbsp;The Tax Hike Would Have &amp;quot;Contributed To Higher Gasoline Prices.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;[The tax increase] would have excessively burdened oil companies that operate in Louisiana and other oil-producing states. It would have discouraged oil exploration, and contributed to higher gasoline prices.&amp;quot; (Editorial, &amp;quot;A Sensible Energy Policy,&amp;quot; The [New Orleans] Times-Picayune, 6/23/07)
&amp;nbsp;A Heritage Foundation Study Found The Tax Increase Would Have Raised Gas Prices To Over $6 By 2016. &amp;quot;A study by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank showed that the proposed tax increase would boost the average price of regular unleaded gasoline from $3.14 per gallon to $6.40 in 2016.&amp;quot; (S.A. Miller, &amp;quot;Senate Votes To Raise Auto Mileage Standards,&amp;quot; The Washington Times, 6/22/07) 
&lt;p&gt;Obama Voted At Least 3 Times To Impose A Temporary Windfall Profits Tax On Oil Companies. (S. 2020, CQ Vote #339: Motion Rejected 50-48: R 9-45; D 40-3; I 1-0, 11/17/05, Obama Voted Yea; S. 2020, CQ Vote #331: Motion Rejected 35-64: R 0-55; D 34-9; I 1-0, 11/17/05, Obama Voted Yea; S. 2020, CQ Vote #341: Motion Rejected 33-65: R 0-54; D 32-11; I 1-0, 11/17/05, Obama Voted Yea)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In The Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama Voted To Tax Natural Gas Purchased From Out Of State&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2003, Obama Voted To Tax Natural Gas Purchases. &amp;quot;Creates the Gas Use Tax Law. Beginning October 1, 2003, imposes a tax upon the privilege of using in this State gas obtained in a purchase of out-of-state gas at the rate of 2.4 cents per therm [sic] or 5% of the purchase price for the billing period, whichever is the lower rate. Amends the Gas Revenue Tax Act to eliminate an exemption on October 1, 2003 and to provide that beginning with bills issued to customers on and after October 1, 2003, no tax is imposed under the Act on transactions with customers who incur a tax liability under the Gas Use Tax Law. Effective October 1, 2003.&amp;quot; (S.B. 1733, Bill Status, www.ilga.gov, Accessed 2/11/08; S.B. 1733: Concurrence In House Amendment #4, Passed 31-27-00, 5/31/03, Obama Voted Yea)&lt;/p&gt;

The Tax On Natural Gas Purchased Outside Of Illinois Was Estimated To Cost $42 Million Annually To Illinois Businesses, Making It One Of The Largest Increases In Illinois In 2003. &amp;quot;One of the largest increases will be a new 5 percent tax on the sales of natural gas bought from out-of-state suppliers, which could reap $42 million for the state. Virtually every manufacturer in Illinois could face increased costs as a result, business leaders said. But they doubt the increases will produce the revenue Blagojevich is counting on because businesses will move quickly to avoid the new or higher fees and taxes.&amp;quot; (John Schmeltzer, &amp;quot;New Taxes And Fees Are Bad For Business, Industrial Leaders Say,&amp;quot; Chicago Tribune, 6/2/03) 
&amp;nbsp;The Natural Gas Tax Made Natural Gas More Expensive For Industrial Buyers Such As Steel Mills And Other Manufacturers. &amp;quot;The natural gas tax. A new policy under Blagojevich&amp;#39;s budget will make natural gas more expensive to industrial buyers. Currently, Illinois offers an exemption on the sales tax paid for natural gas, but the new budget ends that exemption, a move that could become a major expense for steel mills and other factories that use large quantities of natural gas.&amp;quot; (Kevin McDermott, &amp;quot;Area Dodged Legislative Hit On Schools, Roads,&amp;quot; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/8/03) 
&amp;nbsp;The Natural Gas Tax Threatened Jobs At The Same Time That Illinois Was Leading The Nation In Jobs Lost. &amp;quot;Just as harmful to the state&amp;#39;s economy are the large taxes on natural gas brought from out-of-state suppliers and the rolling stock sales tax. Both of these taxes will negatively affect important businesses as well as the employees who are dependent on these Illinois companies. I have received phone calls and letters from all sectors of the business community who reported that the projected loss of revenues due to these increased taxes and fees may well cause them to close their facilities in Illinois and move to a more business-friendly surrounding state while still serving Illinois customers. Illinois leads the nation in jobs lost. We cannot afford to drive more businesses from our state.&amp;quot; (State Rep. Carolyn Krause, Op-Ed, &amp;quot;Increase Tax Incentives, Not Taxes For Businesses,&amp;quot; Chicago Tribune, 6/13/03) 
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            " title="Barack Obama's Agenda For Higher Energy Taxes" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/d1295871-57f0-4337-b6e0-c590caa6f223.htm" rowid="32319676" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Barack Obama&amp;#39;s Anti-Growth Agenda
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA --&amp;nbsp;Today, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds issued the following statement on Barack Obama&amp;#39;s remarks concerning global competitiveness:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Barack Obama&amp;#39;s agenda to raise taxes and isolate America from foreign markets will not get our economy back on track or create new jobs. Even Barack Obama admits that it&amp;#39;s poor economic judgment to want to raise taxes while our economy is struggling. Even Barack Obama&amp;#39;s advisors admit that his trade policies will harm our economy. To help create jobs in America, we need to lower taxes and open up foreign markets to American goods. Americans cannot afford Barack Obama&amp;#39;s &amp;#39;change&amp;#39; that takes us back to the failed policies of the past.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;BARACK OBAMA: TAX INCREASES WILL HURT THE ECONOMY&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama&amp;#39;s Plan To Raise Taxes During An Economic Downturn Would Only Further Weaken Our Economy: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Last Week, Barack Obama Admitted His Tax Increases Will Harm The Economy. CNBC&amp;#39;S JOHN HARWOOD: &amp;quot;And I found this fascinating, Maria, that on the issue of taxes, he looked to insulate himself by saying that if, in fact, economic conditions justify the fact that it might harm the economy, he might be willing to hold off some of his tax increases when he takes office in January. Let&amp;#39;s take a listen to Barack Obama.&amp;quot; BARACK OBAMA: &amp;quot;Some of those, you could possibly defer. But I think the basic principle of restoring fairness to our economy and encouraging bottom-up economic growth is important. So here&amp;#39;s what we know: We know that over the last decade or so, that more than half of the economic growth has been captured by the top one percent of U.S. citizens. That means the other 99 percent have seen their effective incomes go down. That is not a recipe for long- term economic growth.&amp;quot; (CNBC, 6/9/08) &lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;Watch Barack Obama On CNBC
&lt;p&gt;CNBC&amp;#39;s Maria Bartiromo Asked Barack Obama: &amp;quot;Why Raise Taxes At All In An Economic Slowdown? Isn&amp;#39;t That Going To Put A Further Strain On People?&amp;quot; (CNBC&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Closing Bell,&amp;quot; 3/27/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;BARACK OBAMA&amp;#39;S ISOLATIONIST TRADE POLICIES&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama&amp;#39;s Isolationist Stance Would Slow Growth And Hurt America&amp;#39;s Global Competitiveness: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Wall Street Journal: &amp;quot;On The Record So Far, Mr. Obama Is The Most Protectionist U.S. Presidential Candidate In Decades.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;On the record so far, Mr. Obama is the most protectionist U.S. presidential candidate in decades. In February he inserted a statement opposing the Korean trade deal into the Congressional record only days before securing the endorsement of the powerful Teamsters union. He also opposes the U.S.-Colombia pact, and he has called for rewriting Nafta&amp;nbsp;-- unilaterally if Canada and Mexico don&amp;#39;t play along. Mr. Obama&amp;#39;s economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee, told Canadian officials this was all for primary show, but the candidate is backing himself into a political corner should he win the White House.&amp;quot; (Editorial, &amp;quot;Change You&amp;#39;ll Have To Pay For,&amp;quot; The Wall Street Journal, 5/28/08)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;&amp;quot;[E]conomists Remain Almost Unanimous In Warning That Restricting Trade Would Slow Overall Growth.&amp;quot; (Justin Fox, &amp;quot;How The Next President Should Fix The Economy,&amp;quot; Time, 5/26/08)
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Pledged To Renegotiate NAFTA With The Threat Of A &amp;quot;Potential Opt-Out.&amp;quot; NBC&amp;#39;s Tim Russert: &amp;quot;A simple question. Will you as president say to Canada and Mexico, this [NAFTA] has not worked for us, we are out?&amp;quot; Obama: &amp;quot;I will make sure that we renegotiate in the same way that Senator Clinton talked about, and I think actually Senator Clinton&amp;#39;s answer on this one is right. I think we should use the hammer of a potential opt-out as leverage to ensure that we actually get labor and environmental standards that are enforced.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, MSNBC Democrat Presidential Debate, Cleveland, OH, 2/26/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Opposes NAFTA, CAFTA, The South Korea And Colombia Free Trade Agreements, And Permanent Normal Trade Relations With China. Obama: &amp;quot;But what I refuse to accept is that we have to sign trade deals like the South Korea Agreement that are bad for American workers. What I oppose&amp;nbsp;- and what I have always opposed&amp;nbsp;- are trade deals that put the interests of multinational corporations ahead of the interests of Americans workers - like NAFTA, and CAFTA, and permanent normal trade relations with China. And I&amp;#39;ll also oppose the Colombia Free Trade Agreement if President Bush insists on sending it to Congress ...&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks To The AFL-CIO, Philadelphia, PA, 4/2/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;OBAMA VS. ADVISOR AUSTIN GOOLSBEE: Barack Obama&amp;#39;s Advisor Opposes Renegotiating NAFTA&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On February 27, 2008, CTV News Reported An Obama Adviser Went To The Canadian Embassy And Sent Message That Barack Obama&amp;#39;s Campaign Rhetoric Critical Of NAFTA Was Not Serious. &amp;quot;Barack Obama has ratcheted up his attacks on NAFTA, but a senior member of his campaign team told a Canadian official not to take his criticisms seriously, CTV News has learned. Both Obama and Hillary Clinton have been critical of the long-standing North American Free Trade Agreement over the course of the Democratic primaries, saying that the deal has cost U.S. workers&amp;#39; jobs. Within the last month, a top staff member for Obama&amp;#39;s campaign telephoned Michael Wilson, Canada&amp;#39;s ambassador to the United States, and warned him that Obama would speak out against NAFTA, according to Canadian sources.&amp;quot; (&amp;quot;Obama Staffer Gave Warning Of NAFTA Rhetoric,&amp;quot; CTV News, www.ctv.ca, 2/27/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;After The Campaign&amp;#39;s Denials, The Associated Press Noted A Memo Written By The Canadian Consulate Which Described An Obama Adviser&amp;#39;s Visit. &amp;quot;Barack Obama&amp;#39;s senior economic policy adviser said Sunday that Canadian government officials wrote an inaccurate portrayal of his private discussion on the campaign&amp;#39;s trade policy in a memo obtained by The Associated Press. The memo is the first documentation to emerge publicly out of the meeting between the adviser, Austan Goolsbee, and officials with the Canadian consulate in Chicago...&amp;quot; (Nedra Pickler, &amp;quot;Obama Adviser Denies Trade Remarks,&amp;quot; The Associated Press, 3/2/08)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;Canadian Consulate Memo: &amp;quot;Noting anxiety among many U.S. domestic audiences about the U.S. economic outlook, Goolsbee candidly acknowledged the protectionist sentiment that has emerged, particularly in the Midwest, during the primary campaign. He cautioned that this messaging should not be taken out of context and should be viewed as more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans.&amp;quot; (Nedra Pickler, &amp;quot;Obama Adviser Denies Trade Remarks,&amp;quot; The Associated Press, 3/2/08)
&lt;p&gt;OBAMA VS. ADVISOR JASON FURMAN: Advisor Jason Furman Has Warned Against Democrats Like Barack Obama Who &amp;quot;Bash Trade And Call For Protectionism&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;And In Recently Naming Jason Furman A Senior Advisor, Obama Chose A Centrist Economist Whose Strong Record In Favor Of Free Trade Has Infuriated Labor And Liberal Activists.&amp;quot; (Janet Hook, &amp;quot;Two Sides Of The American Coin,&amp;quot; Los Angeles Times, 6/15/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Furman Has Warned Democrats Against Democrats Attempting To &amp;quot;Bash Trade And Call For Protectionism.&amp;quot; Furman: &amp;quot;I hope the lesson that Democratic candidates take from this is not to bash trade and call for protectionism, but instead to call for a robust safety net. Those are all the best answers.&amp;quot; (NPR&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Morning Edition,&amp;quot; 10/9/07)&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Barack Obama's Anti-Growth Agenda" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/ae4cf305-0500-4eea-92de-2c740ed2b15a.htm" rowid="32319564" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Barack Obama&amp;#39;s Changing Positions
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            Everyone&amp;#39;s Been Listening To Him 
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA&amp;nbsp;-- Today, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds issued the following statement concerning Barack Obama&amp;#39;s statement that those accusing him of changing positions &amp;quot;haven&amp;#39;t apparently been listening to me&amp;quot;: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Since becoming his party&amp;#39;s presumptive nominee, Barack Obama has changed numerous positions and will continue to change his stances as he puts politics ahead of principle. From growing our economy to securing our nation, Barack Obama has proven his rhetoric to be nothing but empty words and broken pledges that are at odds with his left wing partisan record. Barack Obama is wrong: everyone&amp;#39;s been listening and still nobody knows what Barack Obama truly believes.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Today, Barack Obama Said That Those Accusing Him Of Changing His Position &amp;quot;Haven&amp;#39;t Apparently Been Listening To Me.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;Asked by a voter about accusations of flip-flopping, Democrat Barack Obama dismissed the notion Tuesday that he has been shifting stances on Iraq, guns and the death penalty to break with his party&amp;#39;s liberal wing and court a wider swath of voters. &amp;#39;The people who say this haven&amp;#39;t apparently been listening to me,&amp;#39; the likely Democratic presidential nominee said in response to a question at a town-hall style event.&amp;quot; (Liz Sidoti, &amp;quot;Obama Denies Shifting To Reach Political Center,&amp;quot; The Associated Press, 7/8/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #1: Despite Pledging To Withdraw American Troops From Iraq Immediately, Barack Obama Now Says He Would &amp;quot;Refine&amp;quot; His Policy After Listening To The Commanders On The Ground&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In July 2008, Barack Obama Said He Will Continue To &amp;quot;Refine&amp;quot; His Iraq Policy. Obama: &amp;quot;I&amp;#39;ve always said that the pace of withdrawal would be dictated by the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain stability. That assessment has not changed...And when I go to Iraq and have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I&amp;#39;m sure I&amp;#39;ll have more information and will continue to refine my policies.&amp;quot; (Jeff Zeleny, &amp;quot;Obama: Open to &amp;#39;Refine&amp;#39; Iraq Withdrawal Timeline,&amp;quot; The New York Times&amp;#39; &amp;quot;The Caucus&amp;quot; Blog, http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com, 7/3/08)In The Primaries, Barack Obama Committed To Withdrawing Troops From Iraq Regardless Of The Advice He Received From Commanders On The Ground. ABC&amp;#39;s Charles Gibson: &amp;quot;And, Senator Obama, your campaign manager, David Plouffe, said, &amp;#39;When he is&amp;#39; -- this is talking about you - &amp;#39;When he is elected president, we will be out of Iraq in 16 months at the most. There should be no confusion about that.&amp;#39; So you&amp;#39;d give the same rock-hard pledge, that no matter what the military commanders said, you would give the order to bring them home?&amp;quot; Obama: &amp;quot;Because the commander-in-chief sets the mission, Charlie. That&amp;#39;s not the role of the generals. ... Now, I will always listen to our commanders on the ground with respect to tactics, once I&amp;#39;ve given them a new mission, that we are going to proceed deliberately, in an orderly fashion, out of Iraq, and we are going to have our combat troops out. We will not have permanent bases there. Once I have provided that mission, if they come to me and want to adjust tactics, then I will certainly take their recommendations into consideration. But, ultimately, the buck stops with me as the commander-in-chief.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Philadelphia, PA, 4/16/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #2: Despite Pledging To Accept Public Financing, Barack Obama Has Reversed His Position And Opted Out Of The System&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Has Declined Public Financing In The General Election, Calling It A &amp;quot;Broken System.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;In a web video emailed to supporters, Obama asks his supporters to help him &amp;#39;declare our independence from a broken system.&amp;#39; Of course, it&amp;#39;s not so much a broken system that explains why he&amp;#39;s passing on the FEC&amp;#39;s $80+million. He will easily raise more than he could ever get in public funding.&amp;quot; (Jonathan Martin, &amp;quot;Obama Opts Out Of Public Financing,&amp;quot; The Politico&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Jonathan Martin&amp;quot; Blog, www.politico.com, 6/19/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In Response To A Midwest Democracy Network Questionnaire, Barack Obama Said He Would Accept Public Funding In The General Election. Question: &amp;quot;If you are nominated for President in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?&amp;quot; Obama: &amp;quot;Yes. I have been a long-time advocate for public financing of campaigns combined with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, &amp;quot;Presidential Candidate Questionnaire,&amp;quot; Midwest Democracy Network, www.commoncause.org, 11/27/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #3: Barack Obama Is Backtracking On His Support For Unilaterally Renegotiating NAFTA&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;During The Primaries, Barack Obama Pledged To Unilaterally Renegotiate NAFTA. NBC&amp;#39;S TIM RUSSERT: &amp;quot;A simple question. Will you as president say to Canada and Mexico, this [NAFTA] has not worked for us, we are out?&amp;quot; OBAMA: &amp;quot;I will make sure that we renegotiate in the same way that Senator Clinton talked about, and I think actually Senator Clinton&amp;#39;s answer on this one is right. I think we should use the hammer of a potential opt-out as leverage to ensure that we actually get labor and environmental standards that are enforced.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, MSNBC Democrat Presidential Debate, Cleveland, OH, 2/26/08)In The General Election, Barack Obama Now Says His Words Were &amp;quot;Overheated And Amplified.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;In an interview with Fortune to be featured in the magazine&amp;#39;s upcoming issue, the presumptive Democratic nominee backed off his harshest attacks on the free trade agreement and indicated he didn&amp;#39;t want to unilaterally reopen negotiations on NAFTA. &amp;#39;Sometimes during campaigns the rhetoric gets overheated and amplified,&amp;#39; he conceded, after I reminded him that he had called NAFTA &amp;#39;devastating&amp;#39; and &amp;#39;a big mistake,&amp;#39; despite nonpartisan studies concluding that the trade zone has had a mild, positive effect on the U.S. economy.&amp;quot; (Nina Easton, &amp;quot;Obama: NAFTA Not So Bad After All,&amp;quot; Fortune, 6/18/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #4: Barack Obama Is Considering Reducing Corporate Taxes Despite Having Called Corporate Tax Cuts &amp;quot;The Exact Wrong Prescription For America&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Wall Street Journal Reported That Barack Obama Would Consider Lowering Corporate Taxes. &amp;quot;Sen. Obama&amp;#39;s nod to lowering corporate taxes comes as Republicans have been attacking him for proposals that would raise the cost of doing business, such as his pledge to raise the tax rate on capital gains, and his vow to increase the top income-tax rates, which are often used by small, unincorporated enterprises. He didn&amp;#39;t say how deeply he would cut the rate, but said it could be trimmed in return for reducing corporate tax breaks, simplifying the tax system.&amp;quot; (Bob Davis and Amy Chozick, &amp;quot;Obama Plans Spending Boost, Possible Cut In Business Tax,&amp;quot; The Wall Street Journal, 6/17/08) &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Just Last Month, Barack Obama Called Corporate Tax Cuts &amp;quot;The Exact Wrong Prescription For America.&amp;quot; OBAMA: &amp;quot;And his proposals, which are essentially $300 billion worth of corporate tax cuts ... I think is the exact wrong prescription for America.&amp;quot; (NBC&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Meet The Press,&amp;quot; 5/4/08) &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #5: Barack Obama Has Changed Positions On The D.C. Handgun Ban&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In June 2008, Barack Obama Said He Thought The D.C. Handgun Ban Was Unconstitutional. Obama: &amp;quot;It looks to me that the D.C. handgun ban overshot the runway. That it went beyond constitutional limits.&amp;quot; (Bloomberg&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Taking Stock,&amp;quot; 6/26/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Obama Campaign: &amp;quot;Obama Believes The D.C. Handgun Law Is Constitutional.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;[T]he campaign of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said that he &amp;#39;...believes that we can recognize and respect the rights of law-abiding gun owners and the right of local communities to enact common sense laws to combat violence and save lives. Obama believes the D.C. handgun law is constitutional.&amp;#39;&amp;quot; (James Oliphant and Michael J. Higgins, &amp;quot;Court To Hear Gun Case,&amp;quot; Chicago Tribune, 11/20/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;During An Interview, Barack Obama Acknowledged His Support For The D.C. Gun Ban. Questioner Leon Harris: &amp;quot;One other issue that&amp;#39;s of great importance here in the district as well is gun control. You said in Idaho recently - I&amp;#39;m quoting here - &amp;#39;I have no intention of taking away folks&amp;#39; guns,&amp;#39; but you support the D.C. handgun ban.&amp;quot; Obama: &amp;quot;Right.&amp;quot; (Leon Harris and Sen. Barack Obama, Forum Sponsored By ABC And Politico.Com, Washington, DC, 2/12/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #6: Barack Obama Has Shifted From Opposing Welfare Reform To Celebrating Welfare Reform In A Television AdIn His Newest Television Ad, Barack Obama Touts His Role In Slashing Welfare Rolls, But Leaves Out That He Was Against The 1996 Federal Legislation That Enacted Welfare Reform. &amp;quot;Barack Obama aligned himself with welfare reform on Monday, launching a television ad which touts the way the overhaul &amp;#39;slashed the rolls by 80 percent.&amp;#39; Obama leaves out, however, that he was against the 1996 federal legislation which precipitated the caseload reduction.&amp;quot; (Teddy Davis and Gregory Wallace, &amp;quot;Obama Shifts On Welfare Reform,&amp;quot; ABC News&amp;#39; &amp;quot;Political Radar&amp;quot; Blog, http://blogs.abcnews.com, Posted 7/1/08) In 1997, Barack Obama Said He Would Have Probably Not Supported Federal Welfare Reform Legislation. &amp;quot;&amp;#39;I am not a defender of the status quo with respect to welfare,&amp;#39; Obama said on the floor of the Illinois state Senate on May 31, 1997. &amp;#39;Having said that, I probably would not have supported the federal legislation, because I think it had some problems.&amp;#39;&amp;quot; (Teddy Davis and Gregory Wallace, &amp;quot;Obama Shifts On Welfare Reform,&amp;quot; ABC News&amp;#39; &amp;quot;Political Radar&amp;quot; Blog, http://blogs.abcnews.com, Posted 7/1/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #7: As A Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama Criticizes The Administration&amp;#39;s Energy Policy Despite Having Voted For The 2005 Bush-Cheney Energy Bill&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Attacks John McCain On Energy Policy, Saying He Will Be A &amp;quot;Third Bush Term.&amp;quot; OBAMA: &amp;quot;Make no mistake, this is an area where John McCain is offering a third Bush term.&amp;quot; (Thomas Fitzgerald, &amp;quot;Obama Knocks McCain, Says Primary Fight Not Hurting, Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/1/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Obama, Of Course, Voted For The 2005 Energy Bill, Which Passed The Senate Overwhelmingly 74-26.&amp;quot; (Jake Tapper, &amp;quot;Who&amp;#39;s Offering A 3rd Bush Term On Energy?&amp;quot; ABC News&amp;#39; &amp;quot;Political Punch&amp;quot; Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 4/3/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Someone Else Who Voted Against It? The Candidate Whom Obama Says Is Offering &amp;#39;A Third Bush Term&amp;#39; On Energy Policy -- John McCain.&amp;quot; (Jake Tapper, &amp;quot;Who&amp;#39;s Offering A 3rd Bush Term On Energy?&amp;quot; ABC News&amp;#39; &amp;quot;Political Punch&amp;quot; Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 4/3/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #8: Barack Obama Has Shifted Positions On Nuclear Power&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In September 2007, Barack Obama Said &amp;quot;I Don&amp;#39;t Think That We Can Take Nuclear Power Off The Table&amp;quot;. &amp;quot;I don&amp;#39;t think that we can take nuclear power off the table. What we have to make sure of is that we have the capacity to store it properly and safely, and that we reduce whatever threats might come from terrorism.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, MSNBC Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Hanover, NH, 9/26/07) &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In December 2007, Barack Obama Said &amp;quot;I Am Not A Nuclear Energy Proponent&amp;quot;. &amp;quot;I start off with the premise that nuclear energy is not optimal. I am not a nuclear energy proponent.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Town Hall Event, Newton, IA, 12/30/07) &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #9: Obama Adviser Said Obama Was Not Opposed To An Individual Health Care Mandate Despite His Opposition During The Primary&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Campaign Adviser, Kavita Patel, Said That Obama &amp;quot;Is Not Opposed To The Idea&amp;quot; Of An Individual Mandate And That The Campaign Is In Touch With Former Clinton Health Care Advisers. &amp;quot;Asked if Obama would be seen as reversing himself if he were to endorse an individual mandate after clashing with Clinton on the issue, Patel dismissed the concern. &amp;#39;He has not said he is opposed to it,&amp;#39; [Kavita] Patel told ABC News. &amp;#39;He has voiced his disagreement with having that be a part of his health-care plan last year. But he is not opposed to the idea itself.&amp;#39; Patel added that the Obama campaign is in touch with former Clinton health-care advisers.&amp;quot; (Teddy Davis, John Santucci and Gregory Wallace, &amp;quot;Obama Health Plan Could Go In Clinton&amp;#39;s Direction,&amp;quot; ABC News&amp;#39; &amp;quot;Political Radar&amp;quot; Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 6/26/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Argued With Sen. Clinton Saying There Is &amp;quot;A Different Way&amp;quot; To Achieve Universal Care Rather Than Imposing An Individual Mandate. Obama: &amp;quot;We&amp;#39;ve got a philosophical difference which we&amp;#39;ve debated repeatedly, and that is that Senator Clinton believes the only way to achieve universal health care is to force everybody to purchase it, and my belief is the reason that people don&amp;#39;t have it is not because they don&amp;#39;t want it, but because they can&amp;#39;t afford it.&amp;quot; (Barack Obama, CNN/Univision Democrat Presidential Debate, Austin, TX, 2/21/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #10: During The Primaries, Barack Obama Pledged To Filibuster Any Bill Which Contained Immunity For Telecommunications Companies Involved In Electronic Surveillance, But Now Backs A Compromise Bill&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In October 2007, The Obama Campaign Pledged He Would Filibuster &amp;quot;Any Bill That Includes Retroactive Immunity For Telecommunications Companies.&amp;quot; Obama Spokesman Bill Burton: &amp;quot;To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies.&amp;quot; (Greg Sargent, &amp;quot;Obama Camp Says It: He&amp;#39;ll Support Filibuster Of Any Bill Containing Telecom Immunity,&amp;quot; Talking Points Memo&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Election Central&amp;quot; Blog, tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com, 10/24/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Now Supports A Bill Reauthorizing Electronic Surveillance That Grants Immunity To Telecommunications Companies. Obama: &amp;quot;Under this compromise legislation, an important tool in the fight against terrorism will continue. It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives and the liberty of the American people.&amp;quot; (Ben Smith, &amp;quot;Obama Backs FISA Compromise,&amp;quot; The Politico&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Ben Smith&amp;quot; Blog, www.politico.com, 6/20/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #11: Barack Obama Disagreed With The Supreme Court Decision Striking Down The Use Of The Death Penalty For A Convicted Child Rapist Although In The Past He Opposed The Death Penalty&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;When Asked About Today&amp;#39;s Supreme Court Decision Striking Down The Use Of The Death Penalty For A Child Rapist, Barack Obama Stated That He Disagreed With The Decision. Reporter: &amp;quot;Senator, what&amp;#39;s your reaction to the Supreme Court&amp;#39;s decision today striking down the death penalty for a child rapist?&amp;quot; Obama: &amp;quot;I disagree with the decision. I have said repeatedly that I think that the death penalty should be applied in very narrow circumstances, for the most egregious of crimes. I think that the rape of a small child, 6 or 8 years old, is a heinous crime. And if a state makes a decision that under narrow, limited, well-defined circumstances, the death penalty is at least potentially applicable, that that does not violate our constitution. Now, I think it&amp;#39;s -- you know, had the Supreme Court said we want to constrain the ability of the states to do this to make sure that it&amp;#39;s done in a careful and appropriate way, that would have been one thi ng. But it basically had a blanket prohibition and I disagreed with that decision.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, Press Conference, Chicago, IL, 6/25/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Running For The Illinois State Senate In 1996, Barack Obama Opposed The Death Penalty. Question: &amp;quot;Do you support capital punishment?&amp;quot; Obama&amp;#39;s Answer: &amp;quot;No.&amp;quot; (Independent Voters Of Illinois Independent Precinct Organization 1996 General Candidate Questionnaire, Barack Obama Responses, 9/9/96)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #12: Barack Obama Has Backtracked From His Earlier Commitment To Meet With The Leaders Of State Sponsors Of Terror &amp;quot;Without Precondition&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At A July 2007 Debate, Barack Obama Announced He Would Personally Meet With Leaders Of Iran, North Korea, Syria And Other Hostile Nations &amp;quot;Without Precondition.&amp;quot; QUESTION: &amp;quot;[W]ould you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries?&amp;quot;... OBAMA: &amp;quot;I would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration - is ridiculous.&amp;quot; (CNN/YouTube Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Boston Globe&amp;#39;s Joan Vennochi: &amp;quot;On foreign policy, Obama went from stating that he would meet, without preconditions, with the president of Iran, to saying he would meet &amp;#39;with the appropriate Iranian leaders at a time and place of my choosing - if and only if - it can advance the interests of the United States.&amp;#39;&amp;quot; (Joan Vennochi, Op-Ed, &amp;quot;Obama And McCain Flip-Flop, Flip-Flop,&amp;quot; The Boston Globe, 6/22/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #13: After Saying Jerusalem Should Be &amp;quot;Undivided,&amp;quot; Barack Obama Has Since Backtracked&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At The Annual AIPAC Policy Conference, Barack Obama Says Clearly That Jerusalem Should Be The &amp;quot;Undivided&amp;quot; Capital Of Israel. Obama: &amp;quot;Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At The Annual AIPAC Policy Conference, Arlington, VA, 6/4/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;One Day After The AIPAC Conference, Barack Obama Said The Future Of Jerusalem Would Have To Be Negotiated By Israel And The Palestinians. CNN&amp;#39;s Candy Crowley: &amp;quot;I want to ask you about something you said in AIPAC yesterday. You said that Jerusalem must remain undivided. Do Palestinians have no claim to Jerusalem in the future?&amp;quot; Obama: &amp;quot;Well, obviously, it&amp;#39;s going to be up to the parties to negotiate a range of these issues.&amp;quot; (CNN&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;The Situation Room,&amp;quot; 6/5/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #14: As A Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama Has Backed Away From His Earlier Support For Normalized Relations With Cuba And Ending The Embargo&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama: &amp;quot;As president, I&amp;#39;ll maintain the embargo it&amp;#39;s an important inducement for change because we know that Castro&amp;#39;s death will not guarantee freedom.&amp;quot; (Beth Reinhard, &amp;quot;It&amp;#39;s Got A Good Beat And You Can Dance To It,&amp;quot; The Miami Herald&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Naked Politics&amp;quot; Blog, 8/25/07)&amp;quot;In January 2004, Obama Said It Was Time &amp;#39;To End The Embargo With Cuba&amp;#39; Because It Had &amp;#39;Utterly Failed In The Effort To Overthrow Castro.&amp;#39;&amp;quot; (&amp;quot;Top Obama Flip-Flops,&amp;quot; The Washington Post, 2/25/08)Barack Obama: &amp;quot;I think it&amp;#39;s time for us to end the embargo with Cuba.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 1/20/04)CHANGE #15: Barack Obama Is Against The California Ballot Measure Banning Gay Marriage Despite His Assertion That Marriage Is Between A Man And A WomanBarack Obama Came Out Against A California Ballot Measure That Would Ban Same-Sex Marriage. &amp;quot;Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who previously said the issue of gay marriage should be left up to each state, has announced his opposition to a California ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriages. In a letter to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club read Sunday at the group&amp;#39;s annual Pride Breakfast in San Francisco, the Illinois senator said he supports extending &amp;#39;fully equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples under both state and federal law.&amp;#39;&amp;quot; (Aurelio Rojas, &amp;quot;Obama Rejects Proposed California Gay Marriage Ban,&amp;quot; Sacramento Bee, 7/1/08)&amp;quot;Obama Had Previously Said He Opposes Same-Sex Marriage But That Each State Should Make Its Own Decision.&amp;quot; (Aurelio Rojas, &amp;quot;Obama Rejects Proposed California Gay Marriage Ban,&amp;quot; Sacramento Bee, 7/1/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #16: Barack Obama Says That &amp;quot;Mental Distress&amp;quot; Should Not Be Reason For A Late Term Abortion Which Contradicts His Past Extreme Pro-Abortion ViewsBarack Obama: Mental Distress Should Not Be A Reason For A Late Term Abortion. &amp;quot;I have repeatedly said that I think it&amp;#39;s entirely appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother. Now, I don&amp;#39;t think that &amp;#39;mental distress&amp;#39; qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama Interview, Relevant Magazine, 7/1/08)Barack Obama Appears To Have Backed Away &amp;quot;From His Long-Stated Positions On Abortion.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;In a recent interview, Obama appears to back away from his long-stated positions on abortion (and a proposed federal abortion rights law he had co-sponsored), repudiate 35 years of accepted Supreme Court rulings on the issue and embrace a view on abortion restrictions that has been expressed on the Court only by Justices Thomas and Scalia.&amp;quot; (Jan Crawford Greenburg, &amp;quot;Obama: Sounding Like Thomas And Scalia?&amp;quot; http://blogs.abcnews.com, 7/4/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CHANGE #17: Barack Obama Said He Would Debate &amp;quot;Anywhere, Anytime&amp;quot; But Has Rejected Joint Town Hall Meetings&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Says He Would Debate John McCain &amp;quot;Anywhere, Anytime.&amp;quot; OBAMA: &amp;quot;I am happy to have a debate with John McCain and George Bush about foreign policy. If John McCain wants to meet me anywhere, anytime, to have a debate about our respective policies in Iraq, Iran, the Middle East or around the world, that is a conversation I am happy to have. Because I believe that there is no separation between John McCain and George Bush when it comes to our Middle East policy and I think their policy has failed.&amp;quot; (Barack Obama, Media Availability, Watertown, SD, 5/16/08)However, Barack Obama Has Rejected Joint Town Hall Meetings. &amp;quot;Avoiding town hall meetings and rejecting public campaign financing may be predictable strategies for minimizing one of McCain&amp;#39;s greatest strengths and exploiting one of his key weaknesses. But they pull Obama down into the cynical political calculations he pledged to rise above.&amp;quot; (Editorial, &amp;quot;Obama&amp;#39;s Big Words Ring Hollow,&amp;quot; St. Petersburg Times, 6/20/08)&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Barack Obama's Changing Positions" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/26d74083-c92b-44e9-9600-4e3c30b9a3fb.htm" rowid="32319561" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Barack Obama&amp;#39;s FISA Flip Front and Center
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            Today Obama Abandons Pledge To Filibuster FISA Bill
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA&amp;nbsp;-- Today, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds issued the following statement concerning Barack Obama&amp;#39;s role in the Senate&amp;#39;s terrorist surveillance debate:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;A few short months ago, Barack Obama outwardly opposed terrorist surveillance legislation, saying that he would filibuster any bill that includes immunity for American telecommunications companies that had been asked by the government to participate in the program. Today, the U.S. Senate will approve legislation providing the immunity Barack Obama supposedly opposed, and despite his promise, he will not support a filibuster. What Barack Obama will do is show that he&amp;#39;s willing to change positions, break campaign commitments and undermine his own words in his quest for higher office.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;During The Primaries, Barack Obama Pledged To Filibuster Any Bill Which Contained Immunity For Telecommunications Companies Involved In Electronic Surveillance, But Now Backs A Bill That Would Do Just That&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In October 2007, The Obama Campaign Pledged He Would Filibuster &amp;quot;Any Bill That Includes Retroactive Immunity For Telecommunications Companies.&amp;quot; Obama Spokesman Bill Burton: &amp;quot;To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies.&amp;quot; (Greg Sargent, &amp;quot;Obama Camp Says It: He&amp;#39;ll Support Filibuster Of Any Bill Containing Telecom Immunity,&amp;quot; Talking Points Memo&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Election Central&amp;quot; Blog, tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com, 10/24/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Now Supports A Bill Reauthorizing Electronic Surveillance That Grants Immunity To Telecommunications Companies. Obama: &amp;quot;Under this compromise legislation, an important tool in the fight against terrorism will continue. It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives and the liberty of the American people.&amp;quot;&amp;nbsp;(Ben Smith, &amp;quot;Obama Backs FISA Compromise,&amp;quot; The Politico&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Ben Smith&amp;quot; Blog, www.politico.com, 6/20/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Barack Obama's FISA Flip Front and Center" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-06-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/a93ad2d8-628e-42d0-90f9-bf47dea64e1f.htm" rowid="32319697" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Barack Obama&amp;#39;s Higher Taxes Agenda
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, with the start of Barack Obama&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Change That Works For You&amp;quot; tour, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds issued the following statement:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;While hardworking families are hurting and employers are vulnerable, Barack Obama has promised higher income taxes, Social Security taxes, capital gains taxes, dividend taxes, and tax hikes on job creating businesses. In fact, during just three years in the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama has already voted 94 times for higher taxes. Barack Obama doesn&amp;#39;t understand the American economy and that&amp;#39;s change we just can&amp;#39;t afford.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;BARACK OBAMA&amp;#39;S PLATFORM OF HIGHER TAXES WILL FURTHER WEAKEN OUR ECONOMY&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Has Proposed A Slew Of Tax Increases:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Has Called For Higher Income Taxes, Social Security Taxes, Capital Gains And Dividend Taxes, And Corporate Taxes, As Well As &amp;quot;Massive New Domestic Spending.&amp;quot; &amp;quot;Obama&amp;#39;s transformation, if you go by his campaign so far, would mean higher income taxes, higher Social Security taxes, higher investment taxes, higher corporate taxes, massive new domestic spending, and a healthcare plan that perhaps could be the next step to a full-scale, single-payer system. Is that what most Americans want, someone who will fulfill a Democratic policy wish list?&amp;quot; (James Pethokoukis, &amp;quot;Barack Hussein Reagan? Ronald Wilson Obama?&amp;quot; U.S. News &amp;amp; World Report&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Capital Commerce&amp;quot; Blog, www.usnews.com, 2/12/08)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;Barack Obama Also Called For A Tax On Coal And Natural Gas. Obama: &amp;quot;What we ought to tax is dirty energy, like coal and, to a lesser extent, natural gas.&amp;quot; (&amp;quot;Q&amp;amp;A With Sen. Barack Obama,&amp;quot; San Antonio Express-News, 2/19/08)
Barack Obama Called For A Windfall Profits Tax On Oil Companies. Obama: &amp;quot;I think it is appropriate for us to impose a windfall profits tax on our oil companies.&amp;quot; (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Charlotte, NC, 5/2/08)
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;[Obama] Wants To Raise Taxes Even Above The Levels Of The Clinton Era, Including A Huge Increase In The Payroll Tax.&amp;quot; (Editorial, &amp;quot;The Obama We Don&amp;#39;t Know,&amp;quot; The Wall Street Journal, 6/4/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If Barack Obama Is Elected To The Presidency And Democrats Get A 60-Vote Majority In The Senate, Taxes Will Go Up. &amp;quot;What will happen to the U.S. economy if Barack Obama wins the presidency and he&amp;#39;s backed by a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate? Taxes will go up.&amp;quot; (Rich Karlgaard, Op-Ed, &amp;quot;Where Will Taxpayers Hide?&amp;quot; Forbes, 6/16/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama&amp;#39;s Plan To Raise Taxes During An Economic Downturn Would Only Further Weaken Our Economy: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CNBC&amp;#39;s Maria Bartiromo Asked Obama: &amp;quot;Why Raise Taxes At All In An Economic Slowdown? Isn&amp;#39;t That Going To Put A Further Strain On People?&amp;quot; (CNBC&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Closing Bell,&amp;quot; 3/27/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;U.S. News &amp;amp; World Report&amp;#39;s Michael Barone Said Obama&amp;#39;s Fiscal Policy Is Akin To Herbert Hoover&amp;#39;s -- Raising Taxes And Backing Protectionist Trade Policies During An Economic Slowdown. &amp;quot;On fiscal policy, both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton want higher taxes, at least on high earners. They want to let at least some of the Bush tax cuts expire in 2010, as scheduled. On trade, they oppose new free-trade agreements and want to renegotiate NAFTA with Canada and Mexico. As it happens, another president embraced such policies in a time of economic slowdown and financial market turbulence: Herbert Hoover raised taxes on high earners sharply and, ignoring a letter signed by 1,000 economists, signed the Smoot-Hawley tariff in 1930. The results were not pretty. Until now, his example has not commended itself to Democrats. One wonders whether voters will agree that tax increases will stimulate the economy.&amp;quot; (M ichael Barone, Op-Ed, &amp;quot;Uncle Sam Pays? Sure, Whatever,&amp;quot; U.S. News &amp;amp; World Report, 4/21/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In The United States Senate, Barack Obama Has Repeatedly Voted For Higher Taxes&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Voted At Least 94 Times For Higher Taxes In The U.S. Senate. (RNC Research)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;To Date, Barack Obama Has Voted For A Tax Increase Approximately Once Every Five Days Congress Has Been In Session. (RNC Research; The Library Of Congress Website, thomas.loc.gov, Accessed 6/8/08) 
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Voted In Favor Of The Democrats&amp;#39; FY 2009 Budget, Which Would Raise Tax Rates For Americans Earning As Little As $31,850: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Obama Voted Twice In Favor Of The Democrats&amp;#39; FY 2009 Budget Resolution. (S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #85, Adopted 51-44: R 2-43; D 47-1; I 2-0, 3/14/08, Obama Voted Yea; S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #142: Adopted 48- 45: R 2- 44; D 44- 1; I 2-0, 6/4/08, Obama Voted Yea) &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Democrats&amp;#39; Budget Would Raise Taxes On Individuals Earning As Little As $31,850. &amp;quot;Under both Democratic plans, tax rates would increase by 3 percentage points for each of the 25 percent, 28 percent and 33 percent brackets. At present, the 25 percent bracket begins at $31,850 for individuals and $63,700 for married couples. The 35 percent bracket on incomes over $349,700 would jump to 39.6 percent.&amp;quot; (Andrew Taylor, &amp;quot;Presidential Hopefuls To Vote On Budget,&amp;quot; The Associated Press, 3/13/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In The Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama Had A Record Of Voting For Higher Taxes &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In The State Senate, Barack Obama Supported &amp;quot;Hundreds Of Tax Increases.&amp;quot; ABC&amp;#39;s Terry Moran: &amp;quot;[O]bama was considered a reliable liberal Democratic vote in Illinois. For instance, voting for most gun control measures, opposing efforts to ban so-called partial birth abortions and supporting hundreds of tax increases.&amp;quot; (ABC&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Nightline,&amp;quot; 2/25/08)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2004, Barack Obama Voted For A $304 Million Tax Increase On Businesses In Creating The Tax Shelter Voluntary Compliance Act. (H.B. 848, Illinois Senate Floor Third Reading, Passed 30-28-1, 5/20/04, Obama Voted Yea; Dave McKinney, &amp;quot;Blagojevich Threatens Up To 5,000 State Layoffs,&amp;quot; Chicago Sun-Times, 5/21/04) &lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;The Legislation &amp;quot;Triggered A Huge Outcry From Business Groups,&amp;quot; Which Contended It Would &amp;quot;Drive Companies Out Of State&amp;quot; And Cost Jobs. &amp;quot;The governor&amp;#39;s bid to raise taxes and fees by close to $400 million and reel in another $300 million-plus in corporate tax breaks has triggered a huge outcry from business groups, which contend the moves will drive companies out of state and cause Illinois to lose jobs.&amp;quot; (Dave McKinney and Leslie Griffy, &amp;quot;Blagojevich Threatens Up To 5,000 State Layoffs,&amp;quot; Chicago Sun-Times, 5/21/04)
&lt;p&gt;In 2003, Barack Obama Voted For A Bill &amp;quot;That Raised A Huge Number Of Fees And Taxes&amp;quot; On Businesses And Licenses. &amp;quot;Obama voted for a bill during the 2003 Illinois General Assembly legislative session that raised a huge number of fees and taxes for businesses and licenses to cover day-to-day expenses of state government.&amp;quot; (Terrence L. Barnich, Op-Ed, &amp;quot;4 Partisan Questions For Obama,&amp;quot; Chicago Tribune, 7/29/04) &lt;/p&gt;

The Legislation Negatively Impacted Illinois&amp;#39; Trucking Industry, Costing The State 25,000 Licensed Trucks In 2005. &amp;quot;Almost 17,000 fewer commercial trucks and 2,700 fewer trucking companies have been registered in Illinois for 2005, fueling the trucking industry&amp;#39;s claim that Gov. Rod Blagojevich is driving businesses out of the state with his new fees and business taxes.&amp;quot; (Brian Wallheimer, &amp;quot;Governor&amp;#39;s New Fees Are Driving Trucking Firms Out Of Illinois, Industry Says,&amp;quot; St. Louis Post- Dispatch, 5/5/04) 
&lt;p&gt;In 2003, Barack Obama Voted To Tax Natural Gas Purchased Outside Of Illinois. (S.B. 1733, Bill Status, www.ilga.gov, Accessed 2/11/08; S.B. 1733: Concurrence In House Amendment #4, Passed 31-27-00, 5/31/03, Obama Voted Yea)&lt;/p&gt;

&amp;nbsp;The Natural Gas Tax Made Natural Gas More Expensive For Industrial Buyers Such As Manufacturers. &amp;quot;The natural gas tax. A new policy under Blagojevich&amp;#39;s budget will make natural gas more expensive to industrial buyers. Currently, Illinois offers an exemption on the sales tax paid for natural gas, but the new budget ends that exemption, a move that could become a major expense for steel mills and other factories that use large quantities of natural gas.&amp;quot; (Kevin McDermott, &amp;quot;Area Dodged Legislative Hit On Schools, Roads,&amp;quot; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/8/03) 
&amp;nbsp;Barack Obama Voted For The Natural Gas Tax, Which Threatened Jobs, At The Same Time That Illinois Was Leading The Nation In Jobs Lost. &amp;quot;Just as harmful to the state&amp;#39;s economy are the large taxes on natural gas brought from out-of-state suppliers and the rolling stock sales tax. Both of these taxes will negatively affect important businesses as well as the employees who are dependent on these Illinois companies. I have received phone calls and letters from all sectors of the business community who reported that the projected loss of revenues due to these increased taxes and fees may well cause them to close their facilities in Illinois and move to a more business-friendly surrounding state while still serving Illinois customers. Illinois leads the nation in jobs lost. We cannot afford to drive more businesses from our state.&amp;quot; (State Rep. Carolyn Krause, Op-Ed, &amp;quot;Increase Tax Incentives, Not Taxes For Businesses,&amp;quot; Chicago Tribune, 6/13/03) 
&lt;p&gt;In 1999, Barack Obama Voted In Favor Of S.B. 1028 To Create The Illinois First Infrastructure Program, Which Raised 146 Taxes And Fees. (S.B. 1028: Senate Floor Third Reading, Passed, 58-0-0, 3/23/99, Obama Voted Yea; S.B. 1028: Senate Conference Committee Report, Passed, 42-17-0, 5/21/99, Obama Voted Yea; Editorial, &amp;quot;Jack Ryan Woefully Unprepared For Attack On Obama,&amp;quot; The State Journal-Register, 4/18/04)&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Barack Obama's Higher Taxes Agenda" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-03-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/c0e8a008-057f-4e71-a02c-e5766135f5da.htm" rowid="32320705" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Barb Vander Veen Joins Supporters Of McCainFormer Legislator To Serve As Co-Chair Of The Americans Of Faith Coalition In The Great Lakes State
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that former state Representative Barb Vander Veen will support the Arizona Senator&amp;#39;s presidential candidacy.&amp;nbsp; In addition, Vander Veen will serve as co - chair of the Americans of Faith coalition for Senator McCain in Michigan.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barb Vander Veen was elected to the Michigan House in 2000 and was elected associate speaker pro tempore of the 92nd legislature.&amp;nbsp; She served on the Allendale School Board and is a member of Resurrection Life Church in Grand Haven. Prior to becoming a legislator, Vander Veen was a Sunday School and Women&amp;#39;s Bible study teacher, and served on the Mission Advisory Board and the Women&amp;#39;s Ministry Board.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Senator McCain shares my commitment to conservative principles and traditional values,&amp;quot; said Vander Veen.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;He has a long and unwavering record of supporting our principles and I am proud to help him spread his conservative message throughout the state of Michigan.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Attorney General Mike Cox continued, &amp;quot;We welcome Barb Vander Veen&amp;#39;s support and are excited about the team in Michigan.&amp;nbsp; Her support - and that of Alan Cropsey - is a true testament to the common sense conservative leadership that Senator McCain has demonstrated over a lifetime serving the public.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Senator John McCain expressed gratitude for Barb Vander Veen&amp;#39;s leadership in Michigan.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;Barb is a remarkable woman who is a deeply dedicated public servant,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain.&amp;nbsp; &amp;quot;I am grateful she will assist in communicating our shared conservative values.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Barb Vander Veen Joins Supporters Of McCain&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;Former Legislator To Serve As Co-Chair Of The Ame" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-03-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/4b3c2825-5ccf-49fa-849b-dd81bb2cc17c.htm" rowid="32320714" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Blount And Vinroot Support Senator McCain
North Carolina Republicans To Serve On Tar Heel Steering Committee

                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that former North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Ferrell Blount and Former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot will support the Arizona Senator&amp;#39;s presidential candidacy.  In addition, Blount and Vinroot will serve as state steering committee members for Senator McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign in North Carolina.&lt;/p&gt; 
&lt;p&gt;
Ferrell Blount served as the North Carolina Republican Party&amp;#39;s chairman for over three years.  Prior to serving as chairman, Blount also represented the Tar Heel State as national committeeman where he chaired the Republican National Committee&amp;#39;s (RNC) Resolutions Committee, as well as the RNC Committee on Call for the 2004 National Republican Convention.&lt;/p&gt;
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Richard Vinroot has an impressive record of public service, most notably serving as the Mayor of Charlotte from 1991 to 1995.  Previously, Vinroot served on the Charlotte City Council from 1983 to 1991.  Vinroot is now an attorney at the Charlotte firm of Robinson, Bradshaw &amp; Hinson.&lt;/p&gt;  
&lt;p&gt;
Blount and Vinroot spoke to the importance of Senator McCain&amp;#39;s resolute leadership.  &amp;quot;Senator McCain is the common sense conservative that North Carolina and our nation deserve,&amp;quot; said Blount.&lt;/p&gt; 
&lt;p&gt;
Vinroot continued, &amp;quot;North Carolinians desire a leader who will focus on protecting our homeland, eradicating overstuffed budgets and wasteful spending, and keeping our economy strong,&amp;quot; said Vinroot.  &amp;quot;I know John McCain is that leader.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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Senator John McCain expressed appreciation for the support of both Blount and Vinroot.  &amp;quot;Ferrell and Richard are dedicated community leaders in North Carolina,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain.  &amp;quot;I am grateful they are serving on our steering committee and I look forward to working with them.&amp;quot;
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            " title="Blount And Vinroot Support Senator McCain&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;
North Carolina Republicans To Serve On Tar Heel S" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-12-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/37aa4c57-df51-49ee-95e6-8d175134475a.htm" rowid="32320403" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Bold Solutions For Michigan
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA&amp;nbsp;-- Campaigning in Detroit today, U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign announced &amp;quot;Bold Solutions for Michigan,&amp;quot; a fiscally conservative plan to help move the Michigan economy forward. The plan emphasizes tax and spending cuts, as well as lower barriers to trade paired with aid for displaced workers, and restoring trust in government through economic reform.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;JOHN MCCAIN: BOLD SOLUTIONS FOR MICHIGAN&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Cut Taxes For Middle Class Families&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Has a Plan To Cut Taxes That Makes The Government Work For American Families And Moves The Economy Forward. John McCain offers a conservative economic plan: keep economic growth strong through light regulations; tough, tight-fisted spending, and low taxes.&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;John McCain Will Cut Taxes For Middle Class Families. Hard-working American families need lower taxes. John McCain will permanently repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) -- a tax that will be paid nearly exclusively by 25 million middle class families. John McCain will repeal this onerous tax, saving middle class families nearly $60 billion in a single year. Under McCain&amp;#39;s plan, a middle class family with children set to pay the AMT will save an average of over $2,700 -- a real tax cut for working families.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Will Keep Tax Rates Low. Entrepreneurs are at the heart of American innovation, growth and prosperity. Entrepreneurs create the ultimate job security -- a new, better opportunity if your current job goes away. Entrepreneurs should not be taxed into submission. John McCain will make the Bush income and investment tax cuts permanent, keeping income tax rates at their current level and fighting the Democrats&amp;#39; plans for a crippling tax increase in 2011. Left to their devices, Democrats will impose a massive $100 billion tax hike, almost $700 per taxpayer every year.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Eliminate Earmark Spending&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain&amp;#39;s Plan Is Different Because He Will Cut Taxes And Spending. Cutting spending is critical to making tax cuts work without burdening our children with debt and making more future tax cuts possible. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Pork-Barrel Spending Continues To Undermine Economic Growth and Erode Taxpayers Trust in Government. This week Congress passed an omnibus spending bill packed with nearly 9,200 earmarks amounting to about $12 billion dollars, while Democrats are celebrating token reductions in earmarks John McCain emphasized that we need to send Washington a simpler message: No Earmarks. Not 9,000. Not 1. Zero.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Understands The Damage Wasteful Spending Can Cause. Spending is what leads to high taxes. It&amp;#39;s no different than in your house: once you write the check or charge the credit card you have to come up with the money. In government, that means raise taxes.&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Spending can be unfair. When the Senators from New York fill bills with earmarks for firms in Rochester, Syracuse, and other locales in their home state, no firm in Michigan has a chance to compete for that business.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Spending can be wasteful and corrupting. With former Members of Congress in federal prison the evidence is before your eyes. Enough is enough.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Is The Only Candidate To Stop Wasteful Pork-Barrel Spending Because He Is The Only One With A Record Of Fighting Against It For Over 20 Years. Long before it was politically popular, John McCain was leading a tough and often lonely fight in Congress against pork-barrel spending and government waste. John McCain co-sponsored the Line Item Veto and continues to fight for its passage.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Has A Four-Step Plan To Cut Spending: &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Stop the earmarks that lead to waste and corruption. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Stop the procurement practices in defense that lead to wasteful cost overruns. We must give our troops the ability to win the war against Islamic extremism. We cannot afford to waste those valuable dollars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Eliminate the 1 in 5 programs that the federal government itself says are not performing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Focus dollars on national priorities. Allow the private sector to fulfill the needs it can meet and get the government out. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Promote Trade And Aid Displaced Workers&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Will Lower Barriers to Trade. John McCain believes that globalization is an opportunity for American workers today and in the future. Ninety-five percent of the world&amp;#39;s customers lie outside our borders and we need to be at the table when the rules for access to those markets are written. To do so, the U.S. should engage in multilateral, regional and bilateral efforts to reduce barriers to trade, level the global playing field and build effective enforcement of global trading rules.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Will Reform The Unemployment System To Assist Workers Who Have Lost A Job That&amp;#39;s Not Coming Back To Find A Job That Won&amp;#39;t Go Away. John McCain will overhaul unemployment and training to make an effective system for retraining, relocating and assisting workers who have lost a job. He will modernize and transform our current worker retraining programs by consolidating redundant federal programs, strengthening community colleges and technical training and giving displaced workers more choices to find their way back to productive and prosperous lives. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Restore Trust Through Economic Reform&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain Is The Only Candidate To Restore Trust In Government By Bringing Real Reform To Tax, Spending And Entitlement Policies In Washington. John McCain&amp;#39;s long record of fighting for taxpayers shows he doesn&amp;#39;t just talk about taking on the tough issues, he takes action. &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;John McCain will reform the tax code to make it simpler, flatter and fairer, and make the Bush tax cuts permanent.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain will stop wasteful spending by vetoing every pork-barrel bill that crosses his desk and make their authors famous.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain will fix Social Security and Medicare instead of passing the problem off to another generation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For More Information Visit www.JohnMcCain.com &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Bold Solutions For Michigan" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/3e3b60d7-8936-4c4d-82b3-34d88803126b.htm" rowid="32320173" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Brevard County Community Leaders Endorse John McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Brevard County Commissioner Mary Bolin and Melbourne Beach Mayor William Stacey have endorsed John McCain for president.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;I&amp;#39;m supporting John McCain because America needs a proven leader that we can count on, and because we must choose a president who will not allow America to lose its foothold in space exploration,&amp;quot; Commissioner Bolin said. &amp;quot;We need a president who knows the vital role of Florida&amp;#39;s space coast in helping form America&amp;#39;s character. John McCain understands that our county and our state are important, not only to America&amp;#39;s economic future, but to our collective identity and national pride.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked Commissioner Bolin and Mayor Stacey, saying, &amp;quot;Mary and William are dedicated to serving the interests of their respective communities. I admire their service and am grateful to have them on our team.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;These two leaders in Brevard County are examples of public service excellence, and I appreciate their support as we work to victory on January 29th.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mayor Stacey is a 28 year veteran of the U.S. Army and has a long and demonstrated record of public service to Floridians.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Commissioner Bolin graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in education. She formerly was on the Brevard County Office of Emergency Management and was a staff member to former state Representative Howard Futch. She is a member of the Brevard County Republican Executive Committee, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, the American Red Cross, Keep Brevard Beautiful, Federated Republican Women&amp;#39;s Club and the Satellite Beach Women&amp;#39;s Club.&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Brevard County Community Leaders Endorse John McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-03-29 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/6cd32399-002a-4f08-97b4-516402d671fa.htm" rowid="32320691" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Brian Calley Joins Supporters Of McCain
Michigan State Representative Endorses Common Sense Conservatism

                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Michigan State Representative Brian Calley will support the Arizona Senator on his road to the White House.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;
Brian Calley was elected to the Michigan House representing the 87th District in 2006.  He currently serves on the Banking and Financial Services Committee; Health Policy Committee; and Tax Policy Committee.  Representative Calley is a former Ionia County Commissioner and Board of Public Works member.&lt;/p&gt; 
&lt;p&gt;
&amp;quot;I am privileged to announce my support for John McCain as he seeks the White House,&amp;quot; said Calley.  &amp;quot;Senator McCain is a leader with a distinguished conservative record that will resonate with Michiganders.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;
Senator John McCain spoke to having Brian Calley&amp;#39;s support.  &amp;quot;I am honored to have his endorsement and look forward to his leadership in Michigan,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain.&lt;/p&gt;

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            " title="Brian Calley Joins Supporters Of McCain&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;
Michigan State Representative Endorses Common Sense" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-12-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/6aee7af2-327a-4b16-931a-e59eb766a98f.htm" rowid="32320448" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Brownback South Carolina Chair David Barron Endorses McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that David Barron, former chairman of Senator Sam Brownback&amp;#39;s presidential campaign in South Carolina, has endorsed John McCain for President of the United States.&lt;/p&gt; 

&amp;quot;I firmly believe the Republican Party can retain the White House without putting political expediency above our conservative principles,&amp;quot; said Barron. &amp;quot;John McCain is the only consistent conservative candidate, with a 24-year record of protecting life, who can defeat Senator Hillary Clinton next November. I am proud to endorse John McCain and I look forward to working hard to make sure this true American hero becomes our next President.&amp;quot;


Currently, David Barron serves as the president of the International Conservative Caucus Foundation. He has been active in politics for more than thirty years, and served as the chairman of the Young Republican National Federation during Ronald Reagan&amp;#39;s presidency. 


John McCain thanked Mr. Barron stating, &amp;quot;I am honored and grateful to have David&amp;#39;s support. His record of leadership and service stands as a testament to his commitment to the conservative cause. I am confident David will be instrumental in the coming weeks as we continue to build a strong grassroots organization in South Carolina.&amp;quot;



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            " title="Brownback South Carolina Chair David Barron Endorses McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-28 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/f9e3c120-7546-463d-b815-cb472a1a1aaa.htm" rowid="32320160" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Burlington County GOP Leaders Endorse John McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Burlington County GOP Chair Bill Layton, and former Burlington County GOP Chairs Glenn Paulsen, and Garfield DeMarco have endorsed John McCain for president. Layton, Paulson and DeMarco will join the statewide steering committee for the McCain 2008 campaign in New Jersey. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;At a time when our nation needs a leader prepared to face the challenges in an uncertain world, John McCain stands alone ready to lead on day one,&amp;quot; said Bill Layton, Burlington GOP County Chair. &amp;quot;New Jersey Republicans are looking for the candidate who can handle our economic and foreign policy challenges and bring about a Republican victory in November. That candidate is John McCain.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked Mr. Layton, Mr. Paulson and Mr. DeMarco, saying, &amp;quot;I appreciate the support of these respected GOP leaders and value the work they have done to build our party in the Garden State. I look forward to their leadership as we build momentum towards Super Tuesday.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Burlington County GOP Leaders Endorse John McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/454ad652-5f6d-4cb1-808d-d52a8aa6f4ac.htm" rowid="32319594" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            By The Numbers: Barack Obama&amp;#39;s Vote Against Funding Our Veterans and Our Troops
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA&amp;nbsp;-- Today, Barack Obama travels to North Dakota for an event focused on our veterans. Yet, in 2007, only 13 days after saying he would vote to support our military men and women in Iraq, Barack Obama opposed billions in critical funding that our troops needed in a political move to satisfy his base. This included over a billion in funding for our veterans. In the end, Barack Obama&amp;#39;s talk about supporting our military and our veterans were just empty words: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;IN 13 DAYS, BARACK OBAMA WENT FROM SUPPORTING FUNDING FOR OUR TROOPS IN IRAQ TO VOTING AGAINST IT&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On May 13, 2007, Barack Obama Supported Funding To Give Our Men And Women The Equipment They Need In Iraq:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Told ABC&amp;#39;s George Stephanopoulos That He Supported Funding To Give Troops The Equipment They Need. Stephanopoulos: &amp;quot;[Y]ou said then you have to say &amp;#39;no&amp;#39; to George Bush because we can&amp;#39;t get steamrolled. Yet you go in the Senate, your critics say, and vote for the funding every single time.&amp;quot; Obama: &amp;quot;Because at that point you&amp;#39;ve got hundreds of thousands of young men and women who have to carry out the mission on behalf of the American people. It&amp;#39;s not their fault that our civilian leadership made bad decisions and what I wanted to make sure of was that they had night vision goggles that they needed, the Humvees that they needed and I also felt and I&amp;#39;ve continued to feel this way that if we could create some semblance of stability and success in Iraq, that would be a good thing.&amp;quot; (ABC&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;This Week,&amp;quot; 5/13/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· Watch Barack Obama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O92kf_zKlC4 &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Thirteen Days Later On May 24, 2007, Barack Obama Voted Against Providing $94.4 Billion In Critical Funding For Our Troops On The Group:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Barack Obama Was One Of Only 14 U.S. Senators To Vote Against Providing $94.4 Billion In Critical Funding For The Troops In Iraq And Afghanistan. (H.R. 2206, CQ Vote #181: Passed 80-14: R 42-3; D 37-10; I 1-1, 5/24/07, Obama Voted Nay)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· &amp;quot;Courting The Anti-War Constituency, Democratic Presidential Rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton And Barack Obama Both Voted Against Legislation That Pays For The Iraq War But Lacks A Timeline For Troop Withdrawal.&amp;quot; (Liz Sidoti, &amp;quot;Clinton, Obama Vote &amp;#39;No&amp;#39; On Iraq Bill,&amp;quot; The Associated Press, 5/25/07) &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;By The Numbers: What Barack Obama&amp;#39;s No Vote Could Have Meant For America&amp;#39;s Veterans:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;· $595 million for medical facilities· $228.982 million in additional funds to treat veterans of the global war on terror · $20 million for vet centers and re-adjustment counseling · $30 million to establish at least one new Level I comprehensive polytrauma center· $9.4 million for operations costs associated with the establishment of new polytrauma residential transitional rehabilitation programs· $10 million for additional transition caseworkers to work with separating veterans and their families· $10 million for rehabilitation programs for vision impaired veterans· $100 million for enhancements to mental health services· $20 mi llion for substance abuse treatment programs· $8 million for poly trauma clinic support teams· $25 million for prosthetics · $250 million for the administration of the VA health care system· $32.5 million for medical and prosthetic research· $83.2 million for general operating expenses· $326 million in construction funding for VA-identified needs&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;(House And Senate Committees On Appropriations, &amp;quot;Summary Of The Fiscal 2007 Supplemental Funding Legislation,&amp;quot; Press Release, 5/24/07)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="By The Numbers: Barack Obama's Vote Against Funding Our Veterans and Our Troops" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-09 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/2716b900-e4f1-45d3-8726-68949b8338f2.htm" rowid="32320022" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner Endorses John McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Steve Poizner, California Insurance Commissioner, has endorsed John McCain for president. Commissioner Poizner will serve as a State Co-Chair for the McCain campaign in California. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain&amp;#39;s life stands as proof positive to his belief in serving others,&amp;quot; said Commissioner Poizner. &amp;quot;Whether in the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Senate, John McCain has time and again demonstrated his courage, character, and integrity. He is also a proven leader in the fight to bring transformative change to Washington. I am proud to endorse John McCain for president.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked Commissioner Poizner, saying, &amp;quot;Steve is a bright, energetic leader for the people of California. He is a tireless advocate for government accountability and a committed public servant. I am honored and grateful to have him on our team.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Steve Poizner was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Prior to serving as Insurance Commissioner, Mr. Poizner was a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur. He moved to California in 1978 to attend Stanford University, where he earned a Master&amp;#39;s Degree with Honors in Business Administration. Commissioner Poizner and his wife, Carol, live in Los Gatos where they are raising their daughter.&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner Endorses John McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/a6aa4c42-3fa6-4e02-853b-c552965fe171.htm" rowid="32320080" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            California Leaders Join John McCain 2008
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced a host of new endorsements from leaders across the Golden State.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;I am proud to endorse John McCain for president,&amp;quot; said Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle. &amp;quot;Senator McCain embodies the spirit of serving a greater good, and he has the experience and vision to lead our nation.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked the California leaders, saying, &amp;quot;I am grateful to have the support of so many dedicated public servants from the Golden State. With their hard work and leadership, I am confident that our efforts will be successful on February 5th.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CALIFORNIA LEADERS FOR MCCAINAssemblyman Tom BerryhillAssemblyman Sam BlakesleeAssemblyman Paul CookState Senator Dave CoxAssemblyman Shirley HortonState Senator Abel MaldonadoFormer Treasurer of the United States Rosario MarinAssemblyman Alan NakanishiAnaheim Mayor Curt PringleFormer Assemblyman Keith RichmanAssemblyman Cameron Smyth&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="California Leaders Join John McCain 2008" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-02-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/6789ac27-3f18-4f1c-b67d-8e006800504b.htm" rowid="32320733" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            California Legislators Pledge Support To McCain
Exploratory Committee Adds Influential Republicans

                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential exploratory committee today announced that Republican California legislators state Senator Jeff Denham, Assemblyman George Plescia, Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, Assemblyman Van Tran, and former state Senator Jim Nielsen will support the Arizona Senator should he decide to seek the presidency.&lt;/p&gt; 
&lt;p&gt;
Senator Jeff Denham was elected to represent California&amp;#39;s 12th Senate District in 2002.  Previously, Denham served in the U.S. Air Force and was awarded the meritorious service medal for his service in Operation Desert Storm.  Denham owns and operates Denham Plastics, an agricultural plastics company.&lt;/p&gt;   
&lt;p&gt;
&amp;quot;Senator McCain is a rare candidate in the sense that he&amp;#39;s a popular figure with voters of various political persuasions,&amp;quot; said Denham.  &amp;quot;I believe his record of service and focus on holding government accountable has bolstered his appeal to people that want more from today&amp;#39;s elected officials.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;
Assemblyman George Plescia was first elected to represent California&amp;#39;s 75th Assembly District in 2002.  Plescia served as the California State Republican Leader through the 2006 election cycle.&lt;/p&gt;  
&lt;p&gt;
&amp;quot;John McCain&amp;#39;s common sense conservative principles have anchored his decision-making process throughout his public service career,&amp;quot; said Plescia.  &amp;quot;California voters understand that in government common sense should prevail and I&amp;#39;m pleased to lend my support.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;  
&lt;p&gt;
Elected in 2002 to represent California&amp;#39;s 80th Assembly District, Bonnie Garcia is the only Republican Latino in the California Assembly.  She also served as a member of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger&amp;#39;s transition team.  In 2004, Garcia was a delegate from California to the Republican National Convention.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;
&amp;quot;Senator McCain&amp;#39;s message of personal achievement and prosperity finds a home with California&amp;#39;s working families,&amp;quot; said Garcia.  &amp;quot;Californians will benefit from his experience and leadership on issues that matter to us - education, a healthy environment, and quality jobs.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;
Assemblyman Van Tran was elected to represent California&amp;#39;s 68th Assembly District in 2004 and currently serves as the Assistant Republican Leader.  Tran is the first Vietnamese-American to be elected to any state legislature in American history.  Before his election, Tran founded a law firm and started the non-profit Vietnamese-American Voters Coalition.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;
&amp;quot;I have made fiscal responsibility one of my top priorities in Sacramento and there is no better example of legislative leadership on that issue than Senator McCain,&amp;quot; Tran said.  &amp;quot;I look forward to helping John McCain build a strong and successful organization in California.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;   
&lt;p&gt;
Former state Senator Jim Nielsen spent twelve years representing California&amp;#39;s 4th Senate District from 1978 to 1990.  After serving in the Senate, Nielsen has devoted his time to helping lead the non-profit group California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights.&lt;/p&gt; 
&lt;p&gt;
&amp;quot;John McCain&amp;#39;s natural disposition as a conservative westerner makes him our best chance of returning to traditional principles represented by former President Ronald Reagan,&amp;quot; Nielsen said.  &amp;quot;California, like Arizona, is a place where Republicans prefer less government, fewer taxes, and policies that help nurture America&amp;#39;s entrepreneurial spirit.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;   
&lt;p&gt;
Senator John McCain said that he was pleased with the addition of these respected Republicans to his California organization.  &amp;quot;I&amp;#39;m proud to have the support of Californians who have earned the respect of their communities,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain.  &amp;quot;These Republican leaders will join me in restoring optimism to the American perspective.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="California Legislators Pledge Support To McCain&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;
Exploratory Committee Adds Influential Repu" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-03 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/1285597e-2109-4db9-819c-761a403c4d38.htm" rowid="32320073" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            California Newspapers Endorse John McCain for President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;Republicans: Pick McCain&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;EditorialSan Gabriel Valley TribuneFebruary 3, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;PUNDITS - and we mean Republican ones - are asking &amp;quot;who can save the GOP?&amp;quot; Following an unpopular president and the Democratic victory in the House and Senate in 2006, the next Republican candidate&amp;#39;s road to the White House will not be smooth. In the days before presidential primaries, picking the flag bearer was done by party leaders from within smoke-filled convention halls. Today, the task is put to the people, in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and soon in about two dozen states - including California - on Super Duper Tuesday, part of the messy but quite democratic process of running for president. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As do we, many people seem to like the straight-talking war hero from Arizona, Sen. John McCain. He&amp;#39;s tough, charming, honest and experienced in foreign affairs - a traditional strength of Republican nominees - and is the only candidate to support President Bush&amp;#39;s troop surge in Iraq, which shows strong signs of working. His victory in South Carolina all but ended Mike Huckabee&amp;#39;s campaign. McCain may not have shaken Mitt Romney, winner in Michigan, whose shifting stands leave Republican voters and us sometimes scratching our heads, but McCain has demonstrated resilience for a man whose campaign was left for dead in the late summer. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;While he wasn&amp;#39;t the one many Republicans believed would be heading for the White House when the campaign started, he&amp;#39;s shown himself to be the best man for the top of the Republican ticket. He&amp;#39;s our clear choice for the Republican presidential primary in our state on Feb. 5. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As Michael Gerson, our new columnist and former George W. Bush speechwriter, wrote in the latest issue of Newsweek, the Republican Party is somewhat a victim of its own successes. Big Republican issues of welfare reform, reducing taxes and fighting crime have been won. Republicans must adapt to newer issues such as a troubled economy, global warming and energy, health care and education. McCain is capable of addressing these issues as no one else around him is. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As a candidate and a man, McCain embodies what&amp;#39;s good about America. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and fought for his country in Vietnam as a Navy pilot; he spent 1967-1973 as a prisoner of war. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He has resisted adjusting his positions by shifting in political winds. He&amp;#39;s stood for a balanced immigration plan (one supported by President Bush) and believes in working toward limiting greenhouse emissions. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Will his support for more troops in Iraq - at the time, a risky position - help him or hurt him? That&amp;#39;s not entirely clear in a war that has lost the support of most Americans. But he honestly told it like it was even when that meant criticizing the president and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for a short-sighted war strategy. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He is a man of character, and it shows. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On the campaign trail, he appears loose, real, authentic. Evan Thomas of Newsweek writes that in &amp;quot;the shadow of Bush&amp;quot; McCain &amp;quot;gives off the aura of a man who has nothing left to lose.&amp;quot; Even neo-conservative commentator William Kristol writes that McCain comes off as &amp;quot;courageous and principled&amp;quot; as compared to Romney, who appears managed and &amp;quot;modern,&amp;quot; and Rudy Giuliani, who shot himself in the foot with a failed strategy of not participating in early primaries. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain is a different kind of Republican. Some may find him not conservative enough; some too much so. Labels are not what leadership is about. He&amp;#39;s the candidate who possesses the right mixture of experience and chutzpah to lead his party up from the ashes. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The San Gabriel Valley Tribune: &amp;quot;Republicans: Pick McCain&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Press Offers Its Picks For The Presidential Primary.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;EditorialTracy PressFebruary 2, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Our choices in Tuesday&amp;#39;s presidential primary are two candidates who transcend the conservative and liberal labels. Republican John McCain is a maverick, and Democrat Barack Obama is an inspiration.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain understands Washington, D.C., politics and the necessity for compromise when legislating. He is a straight-shooter. He doesn&amp;#39;t waver from his position, but he isn&amp;#39;t obstinate when there are better solutions. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We like McCain&amp;#39;s steadfastness to providing pathways to citizenship for illegal immigrants and to ensuring that the borders are secure first. He didn&amp;#39;t like the Iraq war strategy of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld&amp;nbsp;-- neither did we&amp;nbsp;-- and is realistic in his assessment of long-term diplomatic and military relations with Iraq, as it takes longer to fix something than to break it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A first-term senator, Obama is resolved to provide better representative government, such as affordable health care. He is a genuine leader who inspires others to excel. His vision of hope, inspiration, dedication and commitment leads to unity and bipartisanship. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;To us, character counts, which propels Obama above his rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, who agrees on most campaign issues. Clinton&amp;#39;s campaign surrogate, husband and former President Bill Clinton, injected a dose of &amp;quot;sleaze&amp;quot; politics to cloud Obama&amp;#39;s appeal. It proves how desperate the Clintons are to return to the White House.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The better resident would be Obama or McCain. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Vote no on Proposition 91:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Proposition 91 is meaningless because a state law was signed to prohibit certain motor vehicle fuel taxes from being retained in the state&amp;#39;s general fund, and supporters of 91 now want it defeated. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Vote no on Proposition 92:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Proposition 92 sets community college fees at $15 per unit and limits future increases, requires minimum funding for public schools and community colleges to be calculated separately and establishes independent community college districts and boards of governors. We cannot support an initiative that would be fiscally detrimental to overall public education in California. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Vote no on Proposition 93:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Proposition 13 changes legislative term limits from 14- to 12-year careers but allows for all 12 years to be served in one or both houses. We cannot support any initiative that deals with legislative terms, unless it removes all term limits.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Vote yes on Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Propositions 94 through 97 would modify gaming contracts with four Southern California Indian tribes to allow a combined 17,000 more slot machines in their casinos. In return, the tribes would send between $3.4 billion and $10.2 billion to the state&amp;#39;s general fund during the next 22 years. With an anticipated $14.5 billion state budget deficit by 2009, voters should treasure, not reject, the extra revenue. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The Tracy Press Editorial: &amp;quot;The Press Offers Its Picks For The Presidential Primary.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Support McCain, Obama On Tuesday&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;EditorialDaily IndependentFebruary 3, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Twenty-two states will see voters heading to the polls this Tuesday, ensuring what will essentially be the first &amp;quot;national primary&amp;quot; day.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Californians will vote on &amp;quot;Super Tuesday,&amp;quot; thanks to a move to an earlier primary. This will help make the Golden State a major player in the primary picture, instead of the afterthought it has been in recent presidential elections.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In addition to the race for the White House, voters will consider several ballot initiatives, but the excitement in this primary is the race for president.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It&amp;#39;s essentially a two-man race in each of the major parties, with Sen. John McCain of Arizona facing off against former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts for the Republican nomination, while Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York will vie to represent the Democratic Party in the general election.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We encourage voters to support McCain and Obama in the primaries.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sen. McCain has experience that sets him apart from the Republican pack. His views on the war in Iraq and his efforts in campaign finance reform are plusses, and his sterling military record ensures that he would be a military-friendly president, which is always important in a community such as ours.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Romney hasn&amp;#39;t spent any time in Washington, which is a concern, and Gov. Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul, the other Republican candidates, have been unable to mount a serious challenge. We understand that a number of local residents have thrown their support to Paul, and we admire their zeal, but we&amp;#39;re unconvinced of his electability or his savvy in foreign policy matters.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Obama is a good choice, providing an alternative to what would be the second chapter in the Clinton White House era. We like Obama&amp;#39;s firm, unchanging stance on the war in Iraq, and find it difficult to trust Clinton, especially after her involvement in some of her husband&amp;#39;s greatest scandals.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Whoever you choose to support in the elections, don&amp;#39;t pass up the opportunity to vote.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The Daily Independent Editorial: &amp;quot;Support McCain, Obama On Tuesday&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="California Newspapers Endorse John McCain for President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/23517147-2912-42e3-aec2-b839afb8d05e.htm" rowid="32319563" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            California Small Business Leaders Endorse John McCain&amp;#39;s Jobs for America Economic Plan
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        &lt;p&gt;LAS VEGAS, NV -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced its California Small Business Leaders for McCain coalition members. On Monday several California small business owners endorsed John McCain&amp;#39;s economic plan, joining business leaders across the country who have praised John McCain&amp;#39;s Jobs for America plan to grow the economy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain&amp;#39;s long standing commitment to keep government spending in check and to promote a healthy environment for small businesses is why I support Senator McCain,&amp;quot; said Herb Morgan, of Efficient Market Advisors. &amp;quot;Senator Obama has put forward an economic plan that will saddle small businesses with higher taxes, expensive mandates and that&amp;#39;s change we can&amp;#39;t afford.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Yesterday in Denver, Colorado John McCain announced his Jobs for America economic plan, kicking off five days of economic themed activity in critical battleground states. John McCain will continue to discuss his comprehensive blueprint that will create millions of good American jobs, ensure our nation&amp;#39;s energy security, get the government&amp;#39;s budget and spending practices in order, and bring relief to American consumers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;SMALL BUSINESS LEADERS FOR MCCAIN COALITION MEMBERS&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;San DiegoMichael Brewer, BFB Group Bob Gaglione, Gaglione Law Group Jim Gibson, Nova VoiceJohn Heubusch, Brahma Holdings Karen Holland, Cabrillo General Insurance Tracy Morgan Hollingworth, Morgan Hollingworth Public AffairsJeff Howard, Winning Sales Habits Jack Hu, Hu Organization LLC Ron Kinder, Home Care Assistance Ricardo Lavite, All Star General Mike Lombardi, Lombardi Contracting Colin McClellan Breeze, Breeze Ventures Lesha Montoya, Shut Up N Dance Herb Morgan, Efficient Market Advisors LLC Jamie Ogle, Lloyd Pest Control David Pimentel, DIP Enterprise, Inc. Mike Rundlett, Mike Rundlett Financial Services Randy Simbro, Altria Systems Matthew Venegas, Event People John Yi, KES Inc. Bonnie Zimmerman, Express Employment Professionals&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;SacramentoSenator Jeff DenhamInsurance Commissioner Steve PoiznerDr. Christian Serdahl, Eye Site SacramentoDr. Richard Jones, Eye Site SacramentoDoug Kelly,&amp;nbsp;Kelly &amp;amp; Associates&amp;nbsp;Julian Canete, Canete CommunicationManuel Cosme, PES AccountingPaul Galindo, Galindo RealtorsAdrian Perez, Latino JournalGeorge Bradshaw, Bradshaw Registered Process ServerJoan Chan, ISBG Inc.Bhajan Bhinder David Sander, Sander &amp;amp; AssociatesBarbara Arnold, Barbara J. Arnold, MDRaymond Haring, Health Span CommunicationsGay Caroll, Gay L. Caroll, Esq.Scott Gordon, Alcon LabsTom Scott, CA against Lawsuit abuseMarco Mlikotin, Rivercity CommunicationsSteve Kinney &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Los AngelesJerry Polanco, Furniture StoreJohn Quintanilla, Golden Rose FloristLuis Alvarado, Estrella Insurance ServicesSteve Armstrong, Armstrong LandscapingGary Steward, SBR Inc. Garbis Sarkissian, Los Felis Liquor StoreTony Salis, IQ PersonalCesar Garcia, InkSpot PrintingDavid Pimentel, DIP Enterprises Inc&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Orange CountyKimberly Wakefield, Moxy SolutionsJustin Divis, The AlleyEric Beach, Frontline StrategiesJack Hu, Hu OrganizationMary and Ron Young, Quiet Village Mobile Home ParkSteve Nevarez, Eagle Real EstateKermit Marsh, Law Offices Kermit D MarshJames Larkin, Larkin Real Estate&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="California Small Business Leaders Endorse John McCain's Jobs for America Economic Plan" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-18 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/43c854fc-ea87-457c-9fbe-b2f3dd9dc380.htm" rowid="32319969" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            California State Assembly Republicans Endorse John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that California State Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines (R-Fresno) and members of the California State Assembly have endorsed John McCain for president. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;As a lifelong conservative and the Republican Leader of the California State Assembly, I strongly support Senator John McCain for President of the United States of America,&amp;quot; said Republican Leader Villines. &amp;quot;During this time of uncertainty, we need a leader who will take strong action to jumpstart our economy, provide tax relief to hard working families and protect our nation from Islamic extremists. Senator McCain has long been a champion of getting government spending under control. He has led the fight in Congress against federal earmarks and will continue to advocate for fiscal responsibility. As President, Senator McCain will continue to make significant progress in the War on Terror and make our country a better, safer place for our children, which I believe is a defining issue of this election. I wholeheartedly endorse Senator John McCain and look forward to working with him to ensure victory in November.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked Republican Leader Villines and the Assembly members for their support, stating, &amp;quot;I admire Mike and his fellow Assembly Republicans for their commitment to our shared conservative principles and devoted public service to the people of California, and I am grateful for their support. In this campaign, I intend to contest California and every corner of America, uniting our Party for victory in November.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY LEADERS SUPPORTING JOHN MCCAIN&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Michael N. VillinesAssembly Republican Leader, 29th District&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;George Plescia&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Assemblyman, 75th District&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Van TranAssemblyman, 68th District&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Greg AghazarianAssemblyman, 26th District&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John BenoitAssemblyman, 64th District&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Tom BerryhillAssemblyman, 26th District&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Cameron SmythAssemblyman, 38th District&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Anthony AdamsAssemblyman, 59th District&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sam BlakesleeAssembly 33rd District&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Paul CookAssemblyman, 65th District&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Bonnie GarciaAssemblywoman, 80th District&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Shirley HortonAssemblywoman, 78th District&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Alan NakanishiAssemblyman, 10th District&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Bill EmmersonAssemblyman, 63rd District &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sharon RunnerAssemblywoman, 36th District&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Jim SilvaAssemblyman, 67th District&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Doug LaMalfaAssemblyman, 2nd District&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Joel AndersonAssemblyman, 77th District&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Roger NielloAssemblyman, 5th District&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ted GainesAssemblyman, 4th District&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The California State Assembly members endorsing John McCain signed the following letter endorsing John McCain for president:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;We, the undersigned members of the Republican Caucus of the California State Assembly proudly endorse Senator John McCain for President of the United States of America.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Now is the time for Republicans and all Americans to unite behind John McCain to lead out country into the future. Americans will have a clear choice in November: freedom and opportunity or retreat and taxes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain knows the importance of winning the War of Terror. There is no more important issues of our time than terrorism. John McCain has been a strong supporter of our nation&amp;#39;s troops and as President he will be committed to defeating terrorists who wish to eliminate our way of life. He is not deterred by those on the other side of the aisle who are calling for an immediate withdrawal of troops and want to employ a cut-and-run strategy. He knows the stakes are too high and American lives are at risk.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain will also turn our economy around and work to end wasteful government spending. He has worked to reduce spending at the federal level and has advocated against government earmarks.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Senator McCain understands the importance of providing tax relief to hard-working families. He believes that the only way to make the government live within its means is to keep money with those who earned it in the first place-the taxpayers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;His Democratic opponents, however, want to raise taxes to grow the size of government, implement costly new government programs and pay for more federal spending.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;The United States will face significant challenges in the years ahead and we need a true leader to face those challenges head on. We believe John McCain has the leadership and courage necessary to keep America safe and restore our nation&amp;#39;s economy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;We wholeheartedly endorse his candidacy for the Presidency of the United States of America and look forward to working with him to ensure victory in November.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="California State Assembly Republicans Endorse John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-06-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/03aa9806-23bd-4df3-9a9c-6345ed921f0a.htm" rowid="32320605" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Campaign Names Women For McCain Steering CommitteeMcCain Organization Continues To Grow In New Hampshire 
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
&lt;p&gt;U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced the names of the New Hampshire &amp;quot;Women for McCain&amp;quot; steering committee who will be working to engage and enlist women across the state in support of the Arizona Senator.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Senator McCain and his wife Cindy applaud the increasing role of women in elected office and American politics and believe this group will be instrumental in growing the campaign&amp;#39;s outreach efforts and winning increased support from New Hampshire women.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Now more than ever, America needs strong leadership,&amp;quot; said Mary Lyons, a member of the New Hampshire &amp;quot;Women for McCain&amp;quot; steering committee from Portsmouth. &amp;quot;And I have never seen John McCain back down from dealing with tough issues.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;I&amp;#39;m supporting John McCain because I believe he is the most knowledgeable candidate on how to handle the Iraq war and will put our nation&amp;#39;s safety first,&amp;quot; said Jayne Millerick of Bow. &amp;quot;He has sacrificed for our country and understands the military and foreign affairs better than anyone else in the race.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The New Hampshire &amp;quot;Women for McCain&amp;quot; coalition will focus on building a grassroots team to help Senator McCain win the first-in-the-nation primary. &amp;quot;We&amp;#39;re committed to impacting this election and we will have the most organized get-out-the-vote effort in state history,&amp;quot; said Karen Cervantes of Lebanon.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Senator John McCain expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the New Hampshire &amp;quot;Women for McCain&amp;quot; coalition. &amp;quot;I am grateful to have the support of these women who are all actively engaged in their communities,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain. &amp;quot;My wife Cindy and I will continue to reach out to women who want to create change in this country.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;New Hampshire &amp;quot;Women for McCain&amp;quot; Leadership TeamMaureen Barrows - ExeterKaren Cervantes - LebanonBobbie Coffin - HancockJaye Dimando - HampsteadSusan Duprey - ConcordJoanne Kenyon - BrentwoodMary Lyons - Portsmouth Jayne Millerick - BowMaureen Mooney - MerrimackMarilee Tuomanen - KensingtonAlison Raymond - ClaremontJudy Havenstein - Alton&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Campaign Names Women For McCain Steering Committee&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;McCain Organization Continues To Grow In N" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2006-12-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/072c4216-9bfc-4b83-a35e-589048e1f212.htm" rowid="32320808" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Clements, McCombs and Mosbacher Join Supporters of Senator McCain in 2008
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        ALEXANDRIA, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential exploratory committee announced today that former Texas Governor William P. Clements, Robert Mosbacher and Billy Joe &amp;quot;Red&amp;quot; McCombs have agreed to serve as honorary Texas chairman.Clements became the first Republican governor of Texas since Reconstruction in 1979, and then served a second term from 1987 to 1991. He was deputy U.S. secretary of defense in the Nixon and Ford administrations, as well as a former chairman of the board of governors of Southern Methodist University. Clements was co-founder and co-owner of Southeastern Drilling Company, which later changed its name to SEDCO Inc. and became the world&amp;#39;s largest oil drilling contracting firm.McCombs is the founder of the Red McCombs Automotive Group and a co-founder of Clear Channel Communications. He is the namesake of the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. McCombs is a former owner of the San Antonio Spurs, the Denver Nuggets, and the Minnesota Vikings. A renowned philanthropist, he created the McCombs Foundation, a charitable organization that supports causes ranging from cancer research initiatives to youth programs. Robert Mosbacher is chairman of Mosbacher Energy Company. He is the past chairman of the Republican National Committee and served as national finance chairman for the campaigns of Presidents Ford and George H. W. Bush. He was the secretary of commerce under President Bush from 1989 to 1992. He has also served two terms as chairman on the Board of Visitors of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Institute. &amp;quot;I am truly honored to have the support of these distinguished men,&amp;quot; Senator McCain said. &amp;quot;Throughout their illustrious careers they have demonstrated unwavering commitment to the Republican Party and conservative values, and I am humbled they have chosen to bring their talents and wisdom to our exploratory committee.&amp;quot;
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            " title="Clements, McCombs and Mosbacher Join Supporters of Senator McCain in 2008" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-10-05 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/e4720188-c87b-4144-8584-8b88778c096b.htm" rowid="32320527" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Climate Change a Top Tier Issue
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
&lt;p&gt;All combined, the Republican candidates for president have visited New Hampshire hundreds of times over the past year to explain to voters why they are most qualified to lead our nation. ... But on the most pressing environmental issue facing the world today, there has been little substance from the candidates. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Six months ago in these pages, we called on all the presidential candidates to present details of their plans to address climate change. ... Most of the Republican candidates have not responded. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It is astonishing that four months before the New Hampshire primary, the majority of GOP candidates ... have not taken the time to seriously weigh in on global warming.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Climate change is clearly an issue on the mind of New Hampshire voters. This spring, 164 towns across the state adopted a resolution at town meeting calling for strong national and local leadership to address climate change. ... &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Polling indicates that more than 70 percent of Republican primary voters consider climate change a serious threat. Eighty-two percent of Republican primary voters favor immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These numbers clarify what New Hampshire voters already know: Climate change is not a partisan issue. Rather, it is a serious problem that will require strong bipartisan leadership. ...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain is the only Republican to step up and make climate change a top tier issue. On the stump, McCain tells the story that during his previous campaign in 2000, people here in New Hampshire repeatedly asked him what he was going to do about climate change. Upon his return to the U.S. Senate McCain studied the issue, even traveling to Greenland to see for himself the changes being felt there. McCain has sponsored legislation calling for a cap on emissions and believes the United States should utilize nuclear energy to reduce carbon emissions. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McCain&amp;#39;s story reminds us why New Hampshire&amp;#39;s role in this process is so important. Only when we Republicans insist that candidates make solutions to climate change a priority will they listen. We are now asking the Republican candidates for the second time: How will you make global warming a priority? We&amp;#39;re all waiting for your answers. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Republican Raymond Burton is executive councilor for New Hampshire&amp;#39;s District 1. Jim O&amp;#39;Brien, campaign manager and chairman for Gordon Humphrey&amp;#39;s 2002 gubernatorial campaign, is executive director of the Granite State Conservation Voters and steering committee member of the Carbon Coalition.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read Full Article - Concord Monitor: &amp;quot;Republican Presidential Candidates Yet To Get Serious About Climate Change&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Climate Change a Top Tier Issue" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-08-20 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/73e1b571-dbd8-439f-ac1b-a4bca6f05c27.htm" rowid="32320572" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Clinton And McCain Take Differing Stands On Iraq
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                    &lt;p&gt;
                                                        
&lt;p&gt;In back-to-back speeches before an audience of military veterans here today, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain praised the fortitude of American troops fighting in Iraq, but presented starkly different assessments of the war and the strategy going forward. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;The best way of honoring their service is by beginning to bring them home,&amp;quot; Mrs. Clinton said, receiving respectful, yet tepid applause during an address to the national convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;When Mr. McCain presented an opposing view, saying the troop buildup in Iraq needed time to succeed, the audience roared with approval.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Even if I must stand athwart popular opinion,&amp;quot; Mr. McCain said, &amp;quot;I will attempt to convince as many of my countrymen as I can that we must show even greater patience, though our patience is nearly exhausted, and that as long as there is a prospect for not losing this war, then we must not choose to lose it.&amp;quot; ...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;During the part of [Mrs. Clinton&amp;#39;s] speech on Iraq, the downtown convention hall here was largely silent. Several times during the rest of her remarks, the applause was started by three young people in the middle of the room who were neither wearing the trademark blue VFW cap or convention name badges.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;While Mrs. Clinton offered a detailed accounting of the legislation she has introduced on behalf of veterans, she did not discuss other votes related to the war, including proposals to set a deadline for a troop withdrawal or the emergency wartime spending request she opposed in May. ...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mr. McCain, a forceful advocate of the Iraq strategy, offered an opposing view when he took the stage shortly after Mrs. Clinton. Pulling troops from Iraq, he said, would be &amp;quot;a mistake of colossal historical proportions.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;As we all know, the war in Iraq has not gone well, and the American people have grown sick and tired of it,&amp;quot; said Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican. &amp;quot;I understand that, of course. I, too, have been made sick at heart by the many mistakes made by civilian and military commanders and the terrible price we have paid for them.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;But we cannot react to these mistakes,&amp;quot; he added, &amp;quot;by embracing a course of action that will be an even greater mistake.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read The Entire Article: The New York Times&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Clinton And McCain Take Differing Stands On Iraq" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-05-16 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/a4c7b99a-1a3d-408c-971a-95b96ca59bc1.htm" rowid="32319746" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            CNN On Jamie Rubin&amp;#39;s Lie 
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;I should tell you that CNN asked Jamie Rubin earlier today for the rest of the interview or at least for a transcript and he said he didn&amp;#39;t have it.&amp;quot;&amp;nbsp;-- CNN&amp;#39;s Dana Bash&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CNN&amp;#39;s &amp;quot;Lou Dobbs Tonight&amp;quot;May 16, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CNN&amp;#39;S DANA BASH: &amp;quot;You remember these interviews were done shortly after Hamas won the Palestinian elections. Lou, the McCain campaign just in the past couple of hours, found a link to more of Jamie Rubin&amp;#39;s interview from back then. In it, I&amp;#39;ll read you a quote from the rest of or at least more of the interview, In that quote Sen. McCain says, &amp;#39;I think part of the relationship will be dictated by how Hamas acts, not how the United States acts.&amp;#39; Now the McCain campaign, as you can image, says that this is proof that Senator McCain has been consistent all along, and I should tell you that CNN asked Jamie Rubin earlier today for the rest of the interview or at least for a transcript and he said he didn&amp;#39;t have it. He said he only had this particular quote he said that was e-mailed to him.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CNN&amp;#39;S LOU DOBBS: &amp;quot;Well that seems, certainly to, as you report, to substantiate precisely what Senator McCain is saying.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;BASH: &amp;quot;That&amp;#39;s what the McCain campaign is insisting and that&amp;#39;s why they were, as you can imagine, very eager to send out this e-mail. And I can tell you at the top of the e-mail the subject header said &amp;#39;Jamie Rubin Lied.&amp;#39; Inside the McCain campaign, they are accusing Jamie Rubin of lying tonight. We&amp;#39;re going wait to hear back from Jamie Rubin about that charge. As you can imagine, that&amp;#39;s quite a charge to say somebody lied.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;DOBBS: &amp;quot;It is quite a charge. It is also quite something for someone from another campaign to conflate both the role of journalism and of course political activism. Let me ask you this. If we may, I&amp;#39;d like to provide the viewers of this broadcast a link, as you referred to it, that would give them the entire context of that interview. So if we may, I&amp;#39;d like to put that up on LouDobbs.com for our viewers&amp;#39; benefits if they&amp;#39;d like to use it.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;BASH: &amp;quot;I&amp;#39;ll get it to you.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;DOBBS: &amp;quot;Great reporting and thank you very much.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Watch The CNN Report On Jamie Rubin&amp;#39;s Lies&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Watch Full UNEDITED Jamie Rubin Question-And-Answer On Hamas&lt;/p&gt;
                                                    &lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="CNN On Jamie Rubin's Lie" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-01 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/c0d102b9-594f-4133-9fb8-67650810390b.htm" rowid="32319607" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Colonel Jack Jackson to Serve as Missouri Co-Chair
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;SAINT LOUIS, MO-- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Colonel Jack Jackson will serve as Missouri co-chair.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;All through his life John McCain has put the interests of our great nation first,&amp;quot; said Colonel Jackson. &amp;quot;He showed courage and integrity throughout his distinguished 22-year naval career, particularly as a POW when he refused early release. John McCain has spent his time in Congress standing up for hard working American taxpayers and reaching across the aisle to get things done. I am grateful for his service to our country and proud to work on his behalf in the state of Missouri.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain added, &amp;quot;Jack has served his country well. He has stood up for veterans and represented his community in the Missouri House. I am grateful for his commitment to my campaign and look forward to working with him in the coming months.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Jack Jackson flew over 600 combat missions in Vietnam. A highly decorated veteran, he is the recipient of four Distinguished Flying Crosses, 33 Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal (with combat V), a host of campaign medals and, most recently, the Legion of Merit for Service to His Country. Jackson left active duty as a Marine Captain in 1977, but remained in the Marine Corps Reserves and achieved the rank of Colonel. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Jackson was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2002. He served as president of the largest freshman class in the history of the state of Missouri; was Chairman of the Veterans Committee, Chairman of the Joint Committee On Terrorism, Bioterrorism, and Homeland Security; and was a member of the Appropriations -- Public Safety and Corrections and Ways and Means Committees. Jackson received the &amp;quot;Legislator of the Year Award&amp;quot; from the Missouri Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars in June 2003, 2005 and 2006, and the &amp;quot;Legislator of the Year Award&amp;quot; from the American Legion in 2004. He received the 2006 Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture Award. He also received the National Aide-de-Camp award from the National Commander of the National VFW.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Jackson has been married for 41 years to the former Arleen Henderlong. They have three children and eight grandchildren. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Colonel Jack Jackson to Serve as Missouri Co-Chair" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-07-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/eaf701fd-4243-416d-bd08-87fba15f84a3.htm" rowid="32319566" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Colorado Small Business Leaders Endorse John McCain&amp;#39;s Jobs for America Economic Plan
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;CENTENNIAL, CO -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced its Colorado Small Business Leaders for McCain coalition chairs. Several Colorado small business owners endorsed John McCain&amp;#39;s economic plan today, joining business leaders across the country who have praised John McCain&amp;#39;s jobs-first plan to grow the economy as president.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;My family has lived and done in business in Colorado for over 100 years. We have grown from a small one man blacksmith shop to a business of over 400 hundred employees,&amp;quot; said Mark Johnson, President and CEO of Jonson Storage and Moving Company. &amp;quot;We did not get there alone. As a company we have been able to succeed because we invested in our employees and our business. That is why we support John McCain&amp;#39;s pro-growth tax policy of permitting businesses to immediately deduct the cost of equipment and technology so we can continue to grow our business and bring more jobs to Colorado. Today&amp;#39;s challenging economic climate is not the time to burden small businesses with more taxes.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ann Brown, president of News Vista Enterprises in Golden Colorado, added, &amp;quot;John McCain has put forth an economic plan that will help small business create jobs, while Senator Obama is proposing raising taxes on small businesses like ours and voting to increase taxes for Coloradoans making as little as $32,000 a year. As a small business owner, the difference could not be more clear and I am proud to support John McCain for president.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Today in Washington, DC John McCain addressed the 79th Annual LULAC Convention where he is discussing how his jobs first plan will help the Hispanic community. Later this week John McCain will travel to Ohio, to talk with working families about his plan to create more jobs in America. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;SMALL BUSINESS LEADERS FOR MCCAIN CHAIRSMichele Austin, President and CEO, Square One Consulting Services, EnglewoodGreg Barrow, Founder/Managing Director, General Capital Partners, DenverAnn Brown, Owner, New Vista Enterprises, GoldenGordon Brown,Owner, New Vista Enterprises, GoldenGeorge Caulkins, Principal, Greendeck Capital, DenverSherry Collins, Owner, S.D. Collins &amp;amp; Associates, LakewoodMichael Eddy, Founder/Managing Director, General Capital Partners, DenverStephen Halliday, President, Ling and Louie&amp;#39;s Asian Bar and Grill, DenverAnne McMahon, President, Friend of the Family LLC, LittletonBeth Isern, President and CEO, Behany Manufacturing, NederlandMark Johnson, CEO, Johnson Storage and Moving Company, CentennialHarold Smethills, Managing Director, Hill Equities, LLC, GoldenJerrold Spaeth, President and CEO, Metro Denver Title, DenverRobert Spicer, Partner, First Financial Equity Corporation, DenverTammy Swanson, President, Optimum Operations, LLC, Fort CollinsFrank Tijerina, Jr.,Tijerina &amp;amp; Assoc, DenverSusan Turner, Owner, Restaurant Management of Georgia, Colorado SpringsMichael Turner, Owner, Restaurant Management of Georgia, Colorado SpringsScott Wyatt, CEO, Advantage Integrated Solutions, Denver&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;###&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Colorado Small Business Leaders Endorse John McCain's Jobs for America Economic Plan" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-02 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/c97da9fa-3db1-44d7-9e61-0aefd3b701a2.htm" rowid="32320087" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressional Leaders Endorse John McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced new endorsements from members of the U.S. House of Representatives.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;I&amp;#39;ve known John McCain for years, and I can say without a doubt that he is a man of the highest personal integrity,&amp;quot; said Congressman Peter King. &amp;quot;When you look at John McCain&amp;#39;s record, you will find he has consistently been a strong voice for defending traditional conservative values, for ending wasteful spending in Washington, and for ensuring our nation&amp;#39;s security. I am proud to join with my colleagues from the House in endorsing John McCain for President of the United States.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked the U.S. Representatives for their support, saying, &amp;quot;It is a great honor to me to have the support of my colleagues from the House. I value their service and advice, and I know they will make a valuable addition to our team.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS FOR MCCAINCongressman Jim Gerlach (R-PA)Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA)Congressman Peter King (R-NY)Congressman Randy Kuhl (R-NY)Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH)&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Congressional Leaders Endorse John McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-12-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/a9469cd8-158c-47aa-a779-83837bb6fe2d.htm" rowid="32320398" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Doug Ose Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that former Congressman Doug Ose (R-CA) has endorsed John McCain for president and will serve as California Co-Chair. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain&amp;#39;s lifetime of service and experience make him the most prepared to take on the challenges the next president will face on day one,&amp;quot; said Congressman Ose. &amp;quot;Throughout his time in Congress he has led courageously in finding solutions to difficult problems. His consistent record, his leadership in working to restore fiscal sanity to Washington, and his ability to attract moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats make him the only candidate who can rally the Reagan coalition and defeat the Democratic nominee in the general election. I am proud to support him for president.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked Congressman Ose, stating, &amp;quot;Doug is a distinguished community leader. He has been an asset to the Republican Party in California and will now be an integral part of my campaign in the state. I look forward to his counsel and am grateful for his support.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Congressman Ose was born in Sacramento. He graduated from Rio Americano High School and University of California, Berkeley. Congressman Ose represented California&amp;#39;s 3rd District from 1999 to 2005.&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Congressman Doug Ose Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-08 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/8bbe48b4-dc30-4b45-878c-3fc4ff4b0c0d.htm" rowid="32320029" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Eric Cantor Endorses John McCain
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
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ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) has endorsed John McCain for president. Congressman Cantor issued the following statement on his endorsement: 

&amp;quot;John McCain is about honor, duty and country above all else. He is a war hero and brings a unique understanding of the threat posed by the terrorists and the spread of radical Islam. He is an unapologetic defender of our nation&amp;#39;s security and will be an excellent president. 

&amp;quot;John McCain is without par in the fight to fix what is broken in Washington. He has been a leader in the U.S. Senate in fighting wasteful government spending and I look forward to working with him to ensure that the federal government starts working for the people again.&amp;quot;

John McCain thanked Congressman Cantor, saying, &amp;quot;In the House, Eric is a consistent voice for the conservative cause. He has earned the respect of his peers and the admiration of his constituents. I am honored and grateful to have his support.&amp;quot;

Eric Cantor is a fourth-term Congressman representing Virginia&amp;#39;s seventh district including the Richmond-metro area. At the beginning of his second term in 2002, Eric was selected to serve as Chief Deputy Majority Whip, the highest appointed position in the House of Representatives. Eric and his wife Diana have three children: Evan, Jenna and Michael. 


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            " title="Congressman Eric Cantor Endorses John McCain" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/063d1530-2f59-4406-9ac3-1e39d82794c4.htm" rowid="32320014" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Jeb Hensarling Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
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ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) has endorsed John McCain for president. Congressman Hensarling is Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a group of over 100 House Republicans organized for the purpose of advancing a conservative social and economic agenda in the House of Representatives. 

Congressman Hensarling issued the following statement on his endorsement:

&amp;quot;As the elected Chairman of the Republican Study Committee -- the conservative movement in the House -- I did not endorse a primary candidate. I feel now, and sincerely hope that my fellow conservatives will agree, that the primary is all but over whether we like it or not -- no disrespect to Governor Huckabee.

&amp;quot;I can and will enthusiastically support Senator McCain as our Republican nominee for President. I call upon my fellow conservatives to do the same. I believe that he has earned our party&amp;#39;s nomination, fair and square.

&amp;quot;I know John McCain and have worked closely with him. While I have had some profound differences with him on important issues, I also respect John McCain and know that on some key issues that are extremely important to our cause, he is right on.&amp;quot;

John McCain thanked Congressman Hensarling for his support, stating, &amp;quot;I admire Jeb&amp;#39;s conservative leadership in the House and his faithful work on behalf of his constituents in Texas. His support will be critical as we continue to unite our Party for victory in November, and I am proud to have him on our team.&amp;quot;

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            " title="Congressman Jeb Hensarling Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-24 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/2d10c1e3-8190-4d99-a746-7a44b97059f5.htm" rowid="32320213" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Jeff Miller Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
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ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Florida Congressman Jeff Miller (R-Chumuckla) has endorsed John McCain for president.

&amp;quot;I am pleased to announce my support of Senator John McCain for President of the United States. Senator McCain is a strong leader and a solid fiscal conservative who has fought against wasteful spending in government since the beginning of his career. Not only is he the most qualified to lead the country on day one, but he has the courage to stay true to his convictions,&amp;quot; said Congressman Miller. 

&amp;quot;As a former Naval aviator who survived more than five years in captivity in Vietnam, Senator McCain has a profound understanding of what is at stake in foreign relations and military affairs. John McCain is ready to lead America in a complex and dangerous world and I&amp;#39;m proud to support him.&amp;quot;

Senator McCain called Congressman Miller a true public servant and a loyal friend, &amp;quot;I am proud to have the endorsement of such a respected leader in Panhandle of Florida. I spent several years in Pensacola in my youth, and I know the support of Northwest Florida is essential to winning a campaign in the Sunshine State.&amp;quot;

Congressman Jeff Miller represents the First Congressional District of Florida. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Veterans&amp;#39; Affairs. Since coming to Congress, Miller has established himself as one of the staunchest conservatives in the House and an emerging leader on the House Armed Services Committee. He has championed numerous tax relief and veterans&amp;#39; measures and fought for less government, less taxes, and more personal freedom. Congressman Miller is married to the former Vicki Griswold. They are both active members of Elizabeth Chapel United Methodist Church in Chumuckla. They have two children and two grandchildren.

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            " title="Congressman Jeff Miller Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-26 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/78809516-c87b-4b49-874d-22484ed7910d.htm" rowid="32320181" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Jeff Miller, Former CIA Director Jim Woolsey, and Former Secretary of the Navy Will Ball to Hold A National Security Town Hall Meeting
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that U.S. Congressman Jeff Miller, Former CIA Director Jim Woolsey, and Former Secretary of the Navy Will Ball will hold a national security town hall meeting on Sunday, January 27th.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sunday, January 27, 2008&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;GULF BREEZE, FLORIDA&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;WHO: Congressman Jeff Miller&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Former CIA Director Jim Woolsey&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Former Secretary of the Navy Will Ball&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;WHAT: National Security Town Hall Meeting &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;WHEN: Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. EST&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Press Set Up Time: 12:00 p.m. EST&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;WHERE: Gulf Breeze Recreation Center&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;800 Shoreline Drive&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Congressman Jeff Miller, Former CIA Director Jim Woolsey, and Former Secretary of the Navy Will Ball" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/37a27b99-c360-408d-9716-8181f02b383b.htm" rowid="32319983" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Joe Knollenberg Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
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ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) has endorsed John McCain for president. 

&amp;quot;As a former Romney supporter, I am proud to take the Governor&amp;#39;s lead and endorse our next Republican president, John McCain,&amp;quot; said Congressman Knollenberg. &amp;quot;John McCain is uniting our Party around conservative principles: strong national security, fiscal responsibility and traditional values. His the one candidate who is ready to lead as commander in chief on day one. Now is the time to unify our Party, and I ask all of my fellow Michigan Republicans to rally to John McCain for victory in November.&amp;quot;

John McCain thanked Congressman Knollenberg for his support, stating, &amp;quot;I admire Joe&amp;#39;s conservative leadership in the House and his faithful service to our nation and the people of Michigan. I proud to have him on our team.&amp;quot;

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            " title="Congressman Joe Knollenberg Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-22 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/0069518a-992d-46e3-99cf-87413b3067ff.htm" rowid="32320240" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Joe Wilson Endorses McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA This afternoon in South Carolina, Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) endorsed John McCain for President of the United States. Congressman Wilson issued the following statement on his endorsement.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;In this presidential campaign, until today, I have remained uncommitted as much as possible. And it hasn&amp;#39;t been easy. I serve in Congress with my friend former Chairman of Armed Services Duncan Hunter. Of course, as we all know, Congressman Hunter has now withdrawn his candidacy. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;I also have respect for the other candidates, and I have great respect for leaders in South Carolina who supported the various campaigns. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;But Saturday, the world of the Republican Party changed. The campaign in our Presidential Primary here in South Carolina has now been resolved; Eighty percent of the counties I represent and my home communities of Lexington and Richland all supported Senator John McCain. The message is clear: win the War Against Terrorism, unite our Party, rebuild the Reagan coalition, and prevail in the November Election.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;To win the general election, we simply must unite social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and national defense conservatives into a single, powerful movement. I am now convinced that John McCain is the leader the Republican voters of the Second District have overwhelmingly chosen for that task.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;The most crucial issue we face today is national defense in the midst of war. I believe that John McCain is best prepared to serve as commander in chief, especially now that our nation is under attack. His background, experience, and judgment have uniquely prepared him for the presidency. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;As we all know, years ago, Senator McCain stood with President Bush when we changed course in Iraq and gave us more boots on the ground, at a time when few had the courage to stand-up and speak out. I am grateful for the success our troops are experiencing. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;On a personal note, every day, I thank God our president followed Senator McCain&amp;#39;s advice. I have four sons in the military, one with recent service in Iraq and another who is currently serving there. After eight visits with the troops in Iraq and five visits with the troops in Afghanistan, I am more convinced than ever that to protect American families at home we must stop the terrorists overseas. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;At last, we have turned the corner in that war. I have seen firsthand in the streets of Ramadi of Anbar Province that the terrorists are losing. Freedom is winning. The troop surge is working. And General David Petraeus and John McCain were right.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Senator McCain also has a positive plan for the economy. For years, John McCain has been a staunch opponent to earmarks and urged the government to cut spending. And now, our economy is facing a crisis. As President, John McCain will be prepared to cut taxes and spending. That approach alone will re-invigorate our nation&amp;#39;s economy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;And finally, Senator McCain is also a strong social conservative. On the issues of life, families, and moral values, John McCain has a consistently conservative record. And that&amp;#39;s another big reason why he won the election Saturday.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;At this moment, the presidential nominating process is entering its final phase: first to Florida, then to the national primaries on February 5th. This will be the most important election in our lifetime. We are facing a global war against Islamic radicals; and we are also fighting a struggle against potential recession here at home.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;The time has come to choose. And I believe the message from South Carolina can be summed up in one sentence: John McCain is the one Republican best prepared to unite our Party, inspire our nation, and lead America as commander in chief during the critical years ahead. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;That is why I support the candidate who can best achieve victory in the Global War on Terrorism. Today, I endorse John McCain for President and offer to do all I can to help him win. Thank you.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Congressman Joe Wilson Endorses McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-02-06 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/b116b0d6-fe52-4731-8ed4-70dc0c1a390e.htm" rowid="32320762" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Keller Joins Supporters Of McCainOrlando Representative Joins Growing Florida Team
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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                                                        &lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential exploratory committee today announced that Rep. Ric Keller (FL-08) will support the Arizona Senator should he decide to seek the presidency.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Rep. Ric Keller is currently serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Education and Labor Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Senator McCain is a common sense conservative who is committed to fiscal responsibility,&amp;quot; said Rep. Keller. &amp;quot;Senator McCain has worked to build a smaller, smarter, and more efficient federal government. I look forward to reaching out to Florida citizens on his behalf.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Senator McCain stated that he was honored to have the support of Rep. Ric Keller. &amp;quot;Rep. Keller has been a strong, independent voice in central Florida,&amp;quot; said Senator McCain. &amp;quot;Ric&amp;#39;s dedication to reducing the size of government and protecting Americans is a testament to his strong leadership.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Congressman Keller Joins Supporters Of McCain&lt;BR&gt;&lt;EM&gt;Orlando Representative Joins Growing Florida Te" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-21 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/e535a742-55d3-4aa6-b7da-3e97c0f6489c.htm" rowid="32319951" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Luis Fortuno Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Congressman Luis Fortuno (R-PR) has endorsed John McCain for president. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In declaring his support for Senator McCain, Fortuno said, &amp;quot;John McCain is an American hero. I am dedicated and committed to helping John McCain&amp;#39;s campaign for president because I know he will provide the leadership we need on local, national and international issues. For Puerto Rico, the issue of the territory&amp;#39;s political status is paramount, because our continued economic and social development requires a permanent and stable political relationship with the United States. I look forward to working closely with Senator McCain to achieve a permanent resolution to Puerto Rico&amp;#39;s status in addition to the many other important issues confronting our great nation, such as economic development, health, education and services for our brave veterans.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked Congressman Fortuno, stating, &amp;quot;I am honored to have Luis&amp;#39; support and have asked him to serve as a co-chair on my campaign&amp;#39;s National Hispanic Advisory Board. The board will counsel me on issues important to the Hispanic-American community and will work to continue to build the campaign&amp;#39;s growing grassroots organization across the country.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Success for America in its governance of Puerto Rico means we must ensure that U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico are given the tools to resolve the question of their permanent political status. I fully support the findings and recommendations of the President&amp;#39;s Task Force on Puerto Rico&amp;#39;s Status and am proud to have cosponsored the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007. I remain hopeful that this legislation, or its companion bill introduced by Congressman Fortuno and Congressman Serrano, will be enacted at the soonest possible time. Either bill will receive my support, whether it occurs during my service as a United States Senator or as president.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Congressman Luis Fortuno Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-13 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/5c047b5f-0e95-4405-b956-a71fea790a6e.htm" rowid="32319993" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Mike Conaway Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced its Vermont Leadership Team, along with endorsements from state legislators and prominent Republican party leaders.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain is the conservative who can rally and unify our party for victory in November,&amp;quot; said Governor Jim Douglas. &amp;quot;John has a 24-year record of being strong on national security, cutting taxes and wasteful spending, and reforming and restoring trust in government to make our country stronger.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked the leadership, saying, &amp;quot;I am grateful to Jim and all of the Republican leaders&amp;nbsp;working on my behalf in Vermont. I look forward to working with each of them and to campaigning in the state on Thursday.&amp;quot; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX) has endorsed John McCain for president.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain is a consistent conservative who will keep America safe, prosperous and proud,&amp;quot; said Congressman Conaway. &amp;quot;He has the experience to lead our nation as commander in chief on day one and defeat the transcendent threat of radical Islamic extremism. John McCain will unite our Party around core conservative principles: strong national security, fiscal responsibility and traditional values. I am proud to join so many fellow Texas Republicans in supporting John McCain for president, and I look forward to helping him to victory in Texas on March 4th.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked Congressman Conaway for his support, stating, &amp;quot;Mike is a strong conservative and a faithful representative of his constituents in West Texas. I am grateful for his support as we work toward victory in Texas on March 4th.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Congressman Mike Conaway Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/85630e30-4d7e-4f34-b963-c1d88830c881.htm" rowid="32319982" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Pete Sessions Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
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ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) has endorsed John McCain for president. 

Congressman Sessions issued the following statement on his endorsement:

&amp;quot;As a Member of Congress firmly committed to the conservative economic, social, and national defense principles of the Republican Party, I am pleased to endorse John McCain for President of the United States. 

&amp;quot;America&amp;#39;s future security and prosperity depends upon our current efforts to stem the tide of liberalism, and now is the time for the Republican Party to unite behind our shared values and common goals. 

&amp;quot;John McCain has the credentials and the commitment to win the Terrorists&amp;#39; War on Us, reduce and reform government spending, strengthen America&amp;#39;s families, and reduce taxes to grow our economy and increase our global competitiveness. 

&amp;quot;At a time of serious security and economic challenges, America needs a President with proven leadership and unquestionable experience, and I look forward to working with John McCain as President to ensure that America&amp;#39;s best days lie ahead.&amp;quot;

John McCain thanked Congressman Sessions for his support, stating, &amp;quot;Pete is a conservative leader in the House and a devoted representative of his constituents in Texas. I proud to have him on our team as we work toward victory in Texas on March 4th.&amp;quot;

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            " title="Congressman Pete Sessions Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2007-08-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/7d2df06e-38bc-4349-92b6-ef4395fb5f7b.htm" rowid="32320574" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Ray LaHood To Attend The Illinois State Fair
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA&amp;nbsp;- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Congressman Ray LaHood will attend the Illinois State Fair on behalf of John McCain on Thursday, August 16th.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;WHO: Congressman Ray LaHood&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;WHAT: Illinois State Fair&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;WHEN: Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. CDT&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Press Set Up Time: 12:15 p.m. CDT&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;WHERE: Illinois State Fairgrounds&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Director&amp;#39;s Lawn&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; 801 Sangamon Avenue&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Springfield, IL 62702&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Congressman Ray LaHood To Attend The Illinois State Fair" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-01-15 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/c7325eba-6e95-4f77-b9d3-59341aca70ff.htm" rowid="32320288" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congressman Tom Davis Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
                                                            
                                                        
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&lt;p&gt;ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA) has endorsed John McCain for president. Davis represents Virginia&amp;#39;s 11th Congressional District and serves as Ranking Member on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. He is also a member of the Committee on Homeland Security. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;John McCain alone has the experience, character and integrity we need in our next president,&amp;quot; said Congressman Davis. &amp;quot;As president, John McCain will lead the fight for fiscal responsibility, a strong defense and the highest ethical standards to restore Americans&amp;#39; trust in their leadership. I am proud to support him for president.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John McCain thanked Congressman Davis for his support, stating, &amp;quot;Tom is one of the most effective and decent public servants in Washington. I am grateful for his support.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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            " title="Congressman Tom Davis Endorses John McCain For President" />
  <downingstreetsaid date="2008-02-11 00:00:00" link="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/3ae1f0f7-1445-4f7d-a906-cae17efa0947.htm" rowid="32320011" side="mcc" srcid="0" text="
                                                        
                                                            Congresswoman Thelma Drake Endorses John McCain For President
                                                        
                                                        
                                                        
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ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain&amp;#39;s presidential campaign today announced that Congresswoman Thelma Drake (R-VA) has endorsed John McCain for president.  

&amp;quot;Tomorrow Virginians will choose their Republican nominee for president,&amp;quot; said Congresswoman Drake. &amp;quot;I sincerely hope they will join me in voting for John McCain. I am confident that John McCain is the one candidate who can keep our families safe, ensure our economic prosperity, and promote the conservative principles in which we believe. I am proud to announce my endorsement of John McCain for president.&amp;quot;

John McCain thanked Congresswoman Drake, saying, &amp;quot;Thelma is a strong, principled leader in the House. She has served her community, her state, and her country admirably. I am honored to have her support, and I look forward to working with her towards victory.&amp;quot;

Representative Thelma Drake was re-elected to her second term in the House on November 7, 2006 to represent Virginia&amp