Illinois senator hasn't been since '06; McCain proposes joint trip to 'educate' him
Associated Press May 27, 08 7:50 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
John McCain hammered at Barack Obama's Iraq credentials yesterday, knocking the Democrat in an AP interview for not having set foot in the country since 2006—and proposing a joint trip so that he could "educate Senator Obama." Obama hasn't witnessed firsthand the benefits of the troop surge, McCain noted, and “has no experience or knowledge or judgment about Iraq and he has wanted to surrender for a long time."
More »
Hopefuls disagree on bill to guarantee college for 3-year vets
Bloomberg May 26, 08 6:45 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Barack Obama and John McCain dueled at Memorial Day rallies in New Mexico today, Bloomberg reports. Obama restated his support for a new veterans bill, while McCain said an alternate plan would better reward those who reenlist. "Our bill has a sliding scale," he said, that "increases benefits according to the veteran's length of service."
More »
Response to editorial swift and sharp
The Hill May 26, 08 3:57 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
The New York Times lambasted President Bush in an editorial today for opposing the new GI Bill, and the White House swiftly fired back, the Hill reports. The paper “irresponsibly distorted” Bush's opposition to the bill, said a statement from press secretary Dana Perino, who said the editorial "could not be farther from the truth about the president’s record of leadership on this issue."
More »
Doubters point to resignations, poorly organized team
New York Times May 25, 08 6:46 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
GOP leaders fear that John McCain's campaign has hit the skids, the New York Times reports. A flurry of staff resignations, a hobbled national crew, and doubts about McCain's ability to capitalize on Democrats' troubles all add to the mix. Not to mention that McCain's drive is nowhere near the efficiency of President Bush's 2004 re-election bid.
More »
Expert calculates candidate's years in biological time
Newsweek May 25, 08 2:22 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
McCain may be 71.8 years old on paper, but his biological age is a youthful 63.7, according to the physician who wrote You: The Owner's Manual. Dr. Michael Roizen made the estimate based on McCain's recently-released medical records (though some details on the candidate's dietary and exercise habits were missing). Only kink? One year in the Oval Office ages its inhabitant 2 biological years.
More »
ANALYSIS
Possible candidate could benefit from Mac's ties to Bush
Economist May 24, 08 4:57 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Many Americans don't know Bob Barr, but they may become familiar with him as John McCain’s Ralph Nader in the 2008 election, the Economist reports. The former GOP lawmaker is seeking the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination, and his viability shows that McCain still has work to do to win over Republican voters.
More »
GOP strategists say cards stacked for big electoral victory
Politico May 24, 08 12:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Despite the odds stacked against Republicans, GOP analysts are cautiously saying that John McCain will not only win, but he might do so by a comfortable margin, Politico reports. When Obama’s specific and geographical weaknesses are played against McCain’s strengths, the result adds up to a win of up to 50 electoral votes, more than President Bush's 35-vote win in 2004.
More »
No sign of cancer for 71-year-old Republican candidate
New York Times May 23, 08 5:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
John McCain’s doctors said today the 71-year-old candidate is in “excellent health and displays extraordinary energy,” and there has been no recurrence of the skin cancer that prompted surgery 8 years ago. The future Republican nominee has kidney stones and takes several medications—including one to reduce cholesterol—but has no other health issues and a strong heart, the New York Times reports.
More »
McCain says his link to Hagee neither long nor strong as Obama's to Wright
Chicago Tribune May 23, 08 3:48 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Barack Obama is tweaking John McCain for slinging muck on Rev. Jeremiah Wright on one hand while distancing himself from Rev. John Hagee on the other, the Chicago Tribune reports. “Nobody thinks that McCain believes that stuff," Obama said. "For McCain to then suggest that every single statement that was made by somebody is somehow attributable to me is just wrong.”
More »
OPINION
Diplomacy takes 'more than a great solider.' It takes 'a wise leader.'
Wall Street Journal May 23, 08 12:40 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Joe Biden takes on Senate colleague Joe Lieberman in the Wall Street Journal today. Lieberman charged earlier this week that Democrats have lost the thread on FDR-style internationalism; Biden counters that it’s Bush who's lost it, with careless saber-rattling and a poorly targeted war on terror, both of which John McCain would perpetuate. Sending the right global signals requires “more than a great solider," he writes. "It will require a wise leader."
More »
analysis
'Waving the bloody shirt of anti-Castro politics' may be out of date
Time May 23, 08 9:43 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
In his speech in Miami this week, John McCain talked the familiar macho talk on Cuba, taking a hard line on the embargo and ridiculing Barack Obama for suggesting that he might open a dialogue with Raul Castro. That may still play with older exiles, Time notes, but a growing number of younger Cuban-Americans don't believe the embargo has any hope of toppling the regime and would like to see more openness in both diplomacy and borders.
More »
But senator's medical records also show signs of age
Associated Press May 23, 08 7:11 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
John McCain's campaign gave the AP the first look at 8 years of the 71-year-old senator's medical records, which show no sign of the melanoma he’s been treated for four times, although he had a lesion removed as recently as February and continues to be at risk for new skin cancers. And though he takes cholesterol medication, doctors say he scores extremely well on heart stress tests.
More »
Campaign will allow reporters to look under tight restrictions
Los Angeles Times May 22, 08 8:20 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
John McCain will give the media a glimpse of his medical records tomorrow, but restrictions will be tight, the Los Angeles Times reports. The campaign will allow a small group of reporters to review 400 pages of documents in 3 hours. They can take notes but can't remove the files or make photocopies. The 71-year-old senator had melanoma surgery in 2000 but says he's now in excellent health.
More »