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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



McCain on air in NH

Posted: Thursday, September 27, 2007 12:06 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC’s Mike Memoli
McCain
advisers said on a conference call this morning that his New Hampshire ad buy is meant to build on what they feel has been a good month for the campaign, as evidenced by the latest poll showing him closing in on Romney and Giuliani.

"From our perspective we sensed this progress was occurring and wanted to capitalize on that, and continue to wage an aggressive and robust campaign by putting these ads up," said campaign manager Rick Davis.

Both new TV ads include footage of a wounded McCain being interviewed in a Hanoi prison. McCain media strategist Mark McKinnon said that the campaign wanted to draw more attention to McCain's "rich and compelling life story." "We made a lot of assumptions about the fact that voters know the story when in fact they really don't," McKinnon said.

In "One Man," a narrator says McCain "sacrificed for his country," and also says he "had the courage to call for change" in the face of a "flawed" Iraq strategy. Both ads also show footage of McCain with Ronald Reagan. But the camp says it isn't making a push just to Republican voters. And in fact, the other ad -- called "Live Free" -- notes Americans have "lost trust in government" in light of Katrina and Congressional scandals. "They're looking for leadership," the ad continues. "New Hampshire, you know who he is."

The camp wouldn't disclose the exact details of the buy, but said it is a "full blown buy." And, the advisers added, the spending will be seen in the upcoming FEC report, though they wouldn't hint where the senator would stand.

McCain will make another swing through the Granite State this Saturday and Sunday. He was last here with the "No Surrender Tour" two weeks ago.

*** UPDATE *** From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
The campaign calls this "a significant statewide ad buy" running on radio and TV on WMUR.

Here are the full transcripts:

Script for "One Man" (60 seconds TV)
INTERVIEWER: How old are you?
JOHN MCCAIN: Thirty-one
INTERVIEWER: What is your rank in the Army?
JOHN MCCAIN: Lt. Commander in the Navy ... Hit by either missile or anti-aircraft fire, I'm not sure which. I ejected and broke my leg and both arms.
INTERVIEWER: And your official number?
JOHN MCCAIN: 624787
ANNOUNCER: One man sacrificed for his country
One man opposed a flawed strategy in Iraq
One man had the courage to call for change
One man didn't play politics with the truth
One man stands up to the special interests
JOHN MCCAIN: Stand up. We're Americans, we're Americans and we'll never surrender. They will.
ANNOUNCER: One man does what's right, not what's easy
John McCain
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.
 
Script for "Live Free" (:30-TV)
ANNOUNCER: America at risk
Americans lost trust in their government
They're looking for leadership
A leader with the judgment and experience to keep us safe
The courage to change Washington
Fix our toughest problems and restore our trust
The character to put America's interests before his own
New Hampshire, you know who he is:
JOHN MCCAIN: Live free or die!
ANNOUNCER: John McCain
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.
 
Script for "Courage" (60 seconds RADIO)
ANNOUNCER: John McCain, prisoner of war, Hanoi, 1967:
INTERVIEWER: How old are you?
JOHN MCCAIN: Thirty-one
INTERVIEWER: What is your rank in the Army?
JOHN MCCAIN: Lt. Commander in the Navy ... Hit by either missile or anti-aircraft fire, I'm not sure which. I ejected and broke my leg and both arms.
INTERVIEWER: And your official number?
JOHN MCCAIN: 624787
ANNOUNCER: One man believes Americans want a leader, not a follower
"No other candidate has the guts to do the same," wrote the Union Leader
One man has the courage to stand up to the special interests
And the judgment and experience to be commander in chief
New Hampshire, you know who he is:
JOHN MCCAIN: Live free or die!
ANNOUNCER: John McCain
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

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Comments

John McCain, the hero in Vietnam. The same hero in Vietnam who sold out another Vietnam vet, John Kerry. Funny isn't it how Republican veterans are considered heroic, Democratic veterans are considered liars.

John McCain is one person I do not want as my next president.

Mc Cain? The guy with the alzheimers?
The Iraq War under Bush has been the equivalent of doing brain surgery with a chain saw, from the start to the mess that we are in now.   I am hoping that, as a fellow former member of USNA, that Senator McCain would have the vision to rethink our foreign policy in the Middle East.
Please----we have seen these films and pictures on tv,books,magazines and in his last run for president.If he is such a tough guy he would have forced Bush to apologize for the nasty campaign lil george used against hm and his family.Instead we have to look at a smooch between george and John and he runs around praising(lying)about what a great president Bush would make.He is so eager for everyone to see him in a prisoner setting but goes along with this administration to not show caskets coming from Iraq.I have lost what little respect I had for John a ong time ago and this just sets it in stone.
well said hmt!
The guy is totally rattled, totally befuddled. Hes looking and sounding like Bush every day. Hes NOTHING now..because of Bush.
The only thing to say is:  Who will he endorse when he drops out?
Tootsie is out of luck.

Kudos to The Gray Havens of RaisingKaine  and for the posters at Mydd.com who also posted this.

Article 1, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution states:No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.

Since Rudy Giuliani is in fact a Knight of the British Empire he cannot without the consent of Congress become president
Consider this your "DEAR JOHN LETTER."
Mccain is washed up. Too much like bush, a war pig.
The right wing apologists said that because John Kerry emphasized his Vietnam service it made him fair game for the lying swift boat attacks. Question -- has John McCain now made himself fair game for similar attacks or is there a double standard?  I see many possible angles of attack but I am too much of a bleeding heart liberal to mention them.
Poor John McCain: tortured by the North Vietnamese for information and he didn't cave in to his principles; tortured by the possibility of not being a Republican nominee for President and he caved in faster Larry Craig in a Minnesota bathroom.
You libs should be ashamed. John fought for your freedom and is a war hero. Hes most expereinced also.
OK, wayneTX, yesterday you said the US is occupying Iraq to protect American freedom.  Now you say the Viet Nam war was to protect our freedom.  While certainly not questioning your right to these beliefs, I am amazed that anyone would believe that was, and is, the purpose of either of these misguided adventures.
In Viet Nam we were fighting against communist.
In Iraq we are fighting againt terrist. I know its two different causes, but its still to keep our freedom and protect our people. Liberals don't understand this, but thats their right I guess.
wayneTx -- I accept your apology on behalf of John Kerry.
Consider how nutty wingnuts have become:

John McCain ISN'T CONSERVATIVE ENOUGH for them.

That is pretty friggin unreal.
'...McCain's "rich and compelling life story." "We made a lot of assumptions about the fact that voters know the story when in fact they really don't," McKinnon said...'

Another part of McCains' 'rich and compelling life story' is being one of the Keating Five !

These were five US Senators who pimpsd for Charles Keating, the crooked head of Lincoln Savings and Loan.
Keating swindled investors out of their life savings.
(An 80's version of Norman Hsu !!)
McCain covered for the guy, trying to intimidate regulators who tried to look into Keating's corrupt empire.
McCain helped Keating get away scot free !

I wonder if the later ads will include this as part of McCain's "rich and compelling life story."  ?
Kerry was innocent - of being a hero.
wayneTx:  '...In Iraq we are fighting againt terrist...'
Actually, wayneTx, in Iraq, we're stealing the oil.
That's a different cause !!
Hillary is beating Tootsie, and Thompson according to Rasmussen:

"Senator Hillary Clinton now enjoys a five-point lead over Mayor Rudy Giuliani in the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. It's Clinton 48% and Giuliani 43%. The former First Lady also leads former Senator Fred Thompson 48% to 41%.

Both match-ups represent gains for the Democratic frontrunner. But the more modest lead, over Giuliani, is also the more dramatic news.

Two weeks ago, Clinton held a statistically insignificant one-point lead over Giuliani. "
  Shame, Shame, Shame. Shame on you for insulting the record of a great American hero. I want to ask all of you, if you can insult a soldier who languished in a POW camp and refused to surrender under torture none of us can imagine, what is to stop you from insulting one who gave just as much in Iraq. John McCain has his faults but all of us have them. And thus far he has been one of the few politicians to try to work and better America, and has tried to not compromise himself or his principals. He has consistently reached across the isle, even when it causes his party to attack him, because he knows it needs to be done and politics be dam*ed. We need a President who is willing to do that and has the experience to do that, and thus far I have seen no one other than John McCain who can do that. John McCain has given his life to the service of this nation. How many of you can say that. America should continue to let him serve as he always has. McCain 08 and God Bless
Sierra, SF. "Actually, wayneTx, in Iraq, we're stealing the oil.
That's a different cause !!"
Sierra, if that is so how come my gas prices have not gone down? Get real!!!! Even if it was wrong to go into Iraq, which for the record it wasn't, we are their now and to leave it as it is would be immoral and disastrous for Iraq, the Middle East, the world, and America. McCain 08 and God Bless
Why is it liberal people seem to equate glib remarks for smarts. It's so easy to sit back , like couch potatoe atheletes, and make sideline quips about people how have actually made and are still making commitments to serve and give. Who have put something on the line greater than their two-cents. Even if they didn't agree with Mr. McCain, they show a little more class and give the man some respect.
From the Huff Post:
Senate Passes Hate Crimes Bill; Larry Craig Opposes
 |  Nico Pitney   |   September 27, 2007 12:33 PM



Moments ago, the Senate voted 60-39 to end debate on the Matthew Shepard Act, which expands federal hate crimes laws to include violence based on a victim's sexual orientation, gender, disability, and other factors......The Senate attached hate crimes legislation to a must-pass Pentagon spending bill Thursday, but opponents predicted it ultimately would fail..'
'..."The president is not going to agree to this social legislation on the defense authorization bill," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. "This bill will get vetoed." ...'

George Bush SUPPORTS hate crimes

...Notably, Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) voted against the legislation....'

Larry tapped out 'NO' in Morse code !!
Go, Larry !!
Rich, Fredericksburg, VA: 'Sierra, if that is so how come my gas prices have not gone down?....'

Ask slick George and Tricky Dick
Think they want low gas prices ?
Think that would be good for Halliburton ?

'...Get real!!!! Even if it was wrong to go into Iraq,...'

It was wrong to go into Iraq.
They didn't attack us and they didn't threaten us !
They didn't have WMDs !!

So 'it was wrong to go into Iraq' Rich !!
It was agression !
It is an unjust war !
(sounds like the same situation with Iran)

No Rich, there is NO HAPPY ENDING TO IRAQ !!
I don't think it matters how long we stay,
We can't provide a stable, much less 'democratic' government.
We're just wasting lives, American and Iraqi
We're there to steal the oil !!

Blood for oil
Rich & Jane Doe, you both forgot to add at the end of your posts "just as John Kerry should have been shown respect."  Now you have credibility!
If this old fool should get the nomination (not likely) I hope this idiot is swift boated to hell.  He deserves it.
McCain became my man when he sang "bomb,bomb,bomb...bomb,bomb Iran and when he told the young heckler "you're drafted". It showed me he has honest thoughts and more sense of humor than any of the others trying to win the whitehouse. The fact he supported his country with his body is something none of you who haven't should EVER make light of. Go big John.
Conceded John Kerry should have been shown more respect then he received. He like John McCain and Chuck Hagel has given much of their lives to the service of this nation. I will give Kerry that much. But it seems awfully hypocritical of you to defend Kerry, but then turn around and attack John McCain. I thought liberals believed 2 wrongs don't make a right? McCain 08 and God Bless
Dear Sierra SF,

I am sorry that you feel that way, but i think that i understand where you are coming from and you do make a convincing case but look at the evidence. I honestly believe that we went into Iraq to prevent Saddam Hussein from possessing WMDs. And even if that turned out to be false that is only in hindsight. You must look at the circumstances that were presented to us in 2003. We had intelligence that Iraq had WMDs, the Israelis had evidence, England had evidence, Italy had evidence, France had evidence, even the UN weapons inspectors felt that Iraq had WMDS. Iraq had also for the longest time prevented the entry of weapon inspectors to Iraq since he kicked them out under the Clinton administration. Because of this we had to go in. We also had to take this opportunity to depose Saddam Hussein (dont tell me you oppose that?) who tortured his own people and threatened the whole region. It was the right thing to do. And we could have done it if it were not for the arrogance of Donald Rumsfeld. If we had had more troops on the ground and had involved all the aspects of our nation to rebuild Iraq we could have done it sooner and with less bloodshed. Unfortunately that was not the case and it resulted in this tragic loss of life and treasure. However if we leave now without a stable DEMOCRATIC government, which is possible, Iraq will become another Afghanistan with a large Al-Quaeda presence, Iran will continue to stretch its influence, the Shia will slaughter the Sunni, Turkey will slaughter the Kurds, and other Sunni nations will be compelled to act against Iran causing a massive regional war. We must also remember that if we leave without accomplishing the above stated goal, it will be viewed as a defeat, and we will be further weakened in the eyes of the world and the terrorists. It was a just war and it is still a just war. We are fighting for democracy and freedom, the fundamental beliefs of Americans. Are we so selfish that we do not share this with others? And to conclude Iraq is producing less oil then it did prewar. Sounds like we are stealing a whole lot from them (sarcasm). McCain 08 and God Bless
Well said Rich. McCain has my vote.


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