No Country for Old McCain: Murtha

Presidency too tall an order for 71-year-old GOP candidate, says rep, 75

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 16, 2008 3:18 PM CDT

(Newser) – John Murtha says John McCain, at 71, might be too old to be commander-in-chief. “This one guy running is about as old as me,” the 75-year-old Democratic congressman said in introducing Hillary Clinton. “Let me tell you something, it’s no old man’s job.” Of working with eight presidents, Murtha said, “They all make mistakes. They all get older.”

The Arizona Republican, 72 on Jan. 20, would the oldest man ever elected to a first term as president, the AP reports. A McCain rep called Murtha's senior moment “nonsense attacks.” A Clinton surrogate distanced himself somewhat from the Pennsylvanian's logic, saying of McCain, “it’s not his age she has a problem with, it’s his ideas for the future.”

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., campaigns with Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., campaigns with Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., center, and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., speaks at the National Press Club in Washington in this Sep. 17, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Candidates Keep Punching

McCain, Obama break with tradition and carry their negative campaigning into the election's final days

(NEWSER) - Both presidential candidates are bucking tradition and remaining on the offensive in the last days of the election—a time when campaigns usually back off and focus on positive messages, the Washington Post reports. Barack Obama is spinning Dick Cheney’s endorsement of John McCain as a troubling indication of a possible Bush redux, and McCain’s newest robocalls feature Hillary Clinton’s primary season attacks on Obama. More»

McCain Borrows Clinton's '3am' Attack

'Hillary's Right,' new ad proclaims

(NEWSER) - John McCain has resurrected Hillary Clinton’s “3am” attack ad, and will be running a modified version in several battleground states, USA Today reports. The Republican's ad reruns a portion of Clinton’s, along with clips of Clinton attacking Obama’s experience, and ends with the tag, “Hillary’s right.” The move continues McCain’s recent tactic of wooing Clinton voters by accentuating the Democrats’ primary differences. More»

More GOP Ads Take Direct Aim at Obama

Republicans trying to take advantage of his recent troubles

(NEWSER) - More Republicans are taking advantage of Barack Obama's newfound vulnerability by giving him a starring role in their political ads, the Los Angeles Times reports. One New Mexico spot says Obama disrespects “the American way of life,” and another in Louisiana that mentions his “radical” healthcare plan prompted the Democrat in the race to insist he has not "endorsed any national politician.” More»

Dems Still Stuck at Starting Gate

Hopefuls must end race 'as soon as possible,' TNR says

(NEWSER) - It's time for Democrats to panic, the editors at New Republic say. Americans are ready for a lefty, yet Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are locked in an ugly battle over racism, sexism, and the minutiae of health care policy. When one of them emerges—probably in June—that candidate will have little time to drum up "narratives that justify their claim on the White House." More»

Al Gore, Dems' Back-Up Plan

In spring's silly season, inconvenient nominee doesn't look impossible: Klein

(NEWSER) - If the Democratic nomination isn’t wrapped up before August's convention, the party might have a third choice: the one they crowned in 2000. If Barack Obama is too bloodied and Hillary Clinton too divisive, Joe Klein writes in Time, a superdelegate coup could yield an Al Gore-Obama ticket on the spot. Of course, the party would have to be “monumentally desperate.” More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

No Country for Old McCain: Murtha

Presidency too tall an order for 71-year-old GOP candidate, says rep, 75

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Hillary Clinton • John McCain • age • John Murtha • negative campaigning

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Candidates Keep Punching

McCain, Obama break with tradition and carry their negative campaigning into the election's final days

McCain Borrows Clinton's '3am' Attack

'Hillary's Right,' new ad proclaims

More GOP Ads Take Direct Aim at Obama

Republicans trying to take advantage of his recent troubles

Dems Still Stuck at Starting Gate

Hopefuls must end race 'as soon as possible,' TNR says

Al Gore, Dems' Back-Up Plan

In spring's silly season, inconvenient nominee doesn't look impossible: Klein

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

No Country for Old McCain: Murtha

Presidency too tall an order for 71-year-old GOP candidate, says rep, 75

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Hillary Clinton • John McCain • age • John Murtha • negative campaigning

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Candidates Keep Punching

McCain, Obama break with tradition and carry their negative campaigning into the election's final days

McCain Borrows Clinton's '3am' Attack

'Hillary's Right,' new ad proclaims

More GOP Ads Take Direct Aim at Obama

Republicans trying to take advantage of his recent troubles

Dems Still Stuck at Starting Gate

Hopefuls must end race 'as soon as possible,' TNR says

Al Gore, Dems' Back-Up Plan

In spring's silly season, inconvenient nominee doesn't look impossible: Klein

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?