Taco John
07-21-2004, 11:46 PM
In California, McCain compares vice presidency to being a prisoner of war
BETH FOUHY, AP Political Writer
Campaigning in California with Republican Senate candidate Bill Jones, Arizona Sen. John McCain repeatedly insisted Sunday that he would not replace Vice President Dick Cheney as President Bush's running mate -- even comparing the job of vice president to his experience as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
"As far as me and the vice presidency is concerned ... I spent a number of years in a North Vietnamese prison camp in the dark and (was) fed scraps, and I don't know why I would want to do that all over again," McCain said at a rally in San Diego.
Later, at an appearance in Sacramento, McCain said the chances of Bush bumping Cheney were about as great as those of a snowball surviving the Arizona summer sun.
"The president and vice president enjoy a very close working relationship, perhaps the closest in history," McCain said. "I see absolutely no inclination on the part of the president or vice president, who's recently restated his intentions to remain as President Bush's running mate."
A political maverick who developed considerable star power during his underdog run for the GOP presidential nomination against Bush in 2000, McCain has been the subject of vice presidential speculation on both the Democratic and Republican sides this year.
He was courted by his friend and fellow Vietnam war veteran, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, to join the Democratic ticket, but firmly rejected Kerry's overtures.
Recently, McCain has shot down rumors and suggestions that he would be on the short list to replace Cheney as Bush's running mate if Cheney steps aside or is pushed by those who consider him a drag on the ticket. McCain campaigned with Cheney in Michigan late last week, calling him "one of the great Americans of our generation."
On Sunday, McCain joked about being wooed by both Republicans and Democrats -- "next will come the Libertarian and vegetarian sides," McCain said.
But he also took a small dig at both presidential campaigns when asked why his name was being floated for both tickets.
"I would argue that the reason why that idea got so much traction -- and now on the (Republican) ticket -- is because Americans would like to see us less polarized and work more together," McCain said. "They don't like the bitterness and anger that critically characterizes this campaign."
McCain was spending Sunday and Monday campaigning for GOP Senate candidate Jones, who faces an uphill effort to unseat incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer.
McCain was to be the headliner at two fund-raisers for Jones's cash-strapped campaign, and Jones and McCain were planning a Monday morning meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Los Angeles.
In 2000, as California's secretary of state, Jones endorsed McCain over Bush before the state's GOP presidential primary, angering many Bush supporters.
At the Sacramento rally, McCain took a subtle swipe at Boxer, who has been accused by many Republicans of being too liberal for most California voters.
"I myself have been representing California for several years," McCain said to laughs and cheers. "I'd like to give that responsibility over to Bill Jones."
BETH FOUHY, AP Political Writer
Campaigning in California with Republican Senate candidate Bill Jones, Arizona Sen. John McCain repeatedly insisted Sunday that he would not replace Vice President Dick Cheney as President Bush's running mate -- even comparing the job of vice president to his experience as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
"As far as me and the vice presidency is concerned ... I spent a number of years in a North Vietnamese prison camp in the dark and (was) fed scraps, and I don't know why I would want to do that all over again," McCain said at a rally in San Diego.
Later, at an appearance in Sacramento, McCain said the chances of Bush bumping Cheney were about as great as those of a snowball surviving the Arizona summer sun.
"The president and vice president enjoy a very close working relationship, perhaps the closest in history," McCain said. "I see absolutely no inclination on the part of the president or vice president, who's recently restated his intentions to remain as President Bush's running mate."
A political maverick who developed considerable star power during his underdog run for the GOP presidential nomination against Bush in 2000, McCain has been the subject of vice presidential speculation on both the Democratic and Republican sides this year.
He was courted by his friend and fellow Vietnam war veteran, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, to join the Democratic ticket, but firmly rejected Kerry's overtures.
Recently, McCain has shot down rumors and suggestions that he would be on the short list to replace Cheney as Bush's running mate if Cheney steps aside or is pushed by those who consider him a drag on the ticket. McCain campaigned with Cheney in Michigan late last week, calling him "one of the great Americans of our generation."
On Sunday, McCain joked about being wooed by both Republicans and Democrats -- "next will come the Libertarian and vegetarian sides," McCain said.
But he also took a small dig at both presidential campaigns when asked why his name was being floated for both tickets.
"I would argue that the reason why that idea got so much traction -- and now on the (Republican) ticket -- is because Americans would like to see us less polarized and work more together," McCain said. "They don't like the bitterness and anger that critically characterizes this campaign."
McCain was spending Sunday and Monday campaigning for GOP Senate candidate Jones, who faces an uphill effort to unseat incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer.
McCain was to be the headliner at two fund-raisers for Jones's cash-strapped campaign, and Jones and McCain were planning a Monday morning meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Los Angeles.
In 2000, as California's secretary of state, Jones endorsed McCain over Bush before the state's GOP presidential primary, angering many Bush supporters.
At the Sacramento rally, McCain took a subtle swipe at Boxer, who has been accused by many Republicans of being too liberal for most California voters.
"I myself have been representing California for several years," McCain said to laughs and cheers. "I'd like to give that responsibility over to Bill Jones."