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McCain Denies '87 Sandinista Tussle

Candidate doesn't know what colleague is talking about

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 3, 2008 10:33 AM CDT
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(Newser) – John McCain denies colleague Thad Cochran's recollection that he physically assaulted a Nicaraguan official in 1987, the New York Times reports, saying “it’s simply not true.” The Mississippi Republican remembers that McCain “reached over and grabbed this guy by the shirt collar and…snatched him up like he was throwing him up out of the chair.”

Cochran, who has criticized McCain’s temper but now tells the Biloxi Sun-Herald that the candidate has chilled, recalls thinking at the time, “Good grief, everybody around here has got guns and we were there on a diplomatic mission.” While McCain denied the story completely (“it just didn’t happen”), he did admit, “I must say, I did not admire the Sandinistas.”

Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.
Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.   (AP Photo/Rogelio Solis, FILE)
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.   (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain.   (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Republican presidential candidate John McCain gestures upon his arrival to Mexico City, Wednesday, July 2, 2008. At right is U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain gestures upon his arrival to Mexico City, Wednesday, July 2, 2008. At right is U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza.   (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Republican presidential candidate John McCain waves as he stands in front of an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe during his visit to the Basilica de Guadalupe in Mexico City, Thursday, July 3, 2008.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain waves as he stands in front of an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe during his visit to the Basilica de Guadalupe in Mexico City, Thursday, July 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
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John McCain • Mississippi • Nicaragua • assault • temper • Thad Cochran • Sandinistas

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