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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 Political Researcher



McCain's victory speech

Posted: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 10:20 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: , ,

From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
McCain was interrupted no less than nine times while his supporters chanted for him ("Mac is Back," "USA," and "Michigan," to point out a few). To the delight of his supporters, McCain talked about his comeback status. "I'm past the age that I can claim the noun kid no matter what adjective precedes it, but tonight we sure showed them what a comeback looks like," McCain said at the Nashua Crowne Plaza, where he delivered his victory speech in 2000.
 
"When the pundits declared us finished, I told them, 'I'm going to New Hampshire, where the voters don't let you make their decision for them,'" McCain continued after a "Mac is Back" chant. "And when they asked, 'How are you going to do it? You're down in the polls. You don't have the money.' I answered, 'I'm going to New Hampshire, and I'm going to tell people the truth.'"
 
Before McCain approached the podium to speak, his campaign played "Hail to the Chief," although he entered to the theme from "Rocky." After basking in the glow of the his win, McCain got down to business -- telling voters exactly how he would act as their President.

"My friends, I didn't go to Washington to go along to get along or to play it safe to serve my own interests. I went there to serve my country," he said to loud applause and cheering. "And that, my friends, is just what I intend to do if I am so privileged to be elected your President."
 
Before concluding his speech, McCain told his supporters he plans to win again next week. "So, my friends, we celebrate one victory tonight and leave for Michigan tomorrow to win another." McCain left the speech to the song "Johnny Be Good."
 
After McCain finished speaking, a man wearing a boot on his head and a Chris Dodd sticker on his shirt went to the podium. Although we could not hear what he was saying, he was engaging the crowd. We are not sure how he got into the rally or what he was trying to accomplish.

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republicans are so over who cares whos coming
Mitt Romney Flip Flopping on Abortion watch this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFMdK0TWtks&feature=related

Do you really want a scum bag like this.
A photograph of GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney at a 1994 Planned Parenthood fund-raiser has surfaced, once again raising questions about the former Bay State’s governor’s abortion flip-flopping.

The picture, a copy of which was obtained by the Herald, shows Romney and his wife Ann at a house party fund-raiser in Scituate with Nicki Nichols Gamble, who was the president of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts at the time. Romney has already downplayed ties to Planned Parenthood after revelations that Ann Romney donated $150 to the group.

Gamble said the pic was snapped at an event at GOP activist Eleanor Bleakie’s house and that she “clearly” remembered speaking with Romney at the event. At the time, Romney was running as a pro-choice Republican against U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).

“My recollection is that we talked about his senate candidacy and the fact that he was supporting Roe v. Wade and a choice agenda at the time,” Gamble told the Herald. “It was a Planned Parenthood event. We were there to discuss our programs and our advocacy.”

The event was held the same day Ann Romney wrote a check to the pro-choice group. Romney has previously said he had “no recollection” of his wife writing the check to Planned Parenthood.

Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom called the flap “a dog bites man story.”

“Governor Romney used to have a different position on abortion,” Fehrnstrom said. “He is now firmly pro-life and has made it clear that as President he will advocate for a culture that welcomes life and protects the sanctity of life. This is the same path that Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush followed.”

Because of his abortion shift, Romney has been branded a flip-flopper by his GOP primary opponents, as well Democrats. Romney has stated he became pro-life in 2004 during the stem cell debate in Massachusetts.

Beyond attending the event, Romney filled out a 2002 questionnaire for the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund in which he said he supported Roe v. Wade, sex education in schools and increased access to emergency contraception.

“With Mitt Romney, this has been more than a flip-flop. This has been an extreme makeover,” said Planned Parenthood spokesman Angus McQuilken. “What voters need to know about Mitt Romney is this: where he stands on any issue is always a moving target.”

Romney reacts to photo:
+ Romney dismisses photo suggesting he attended Planned Parenthood event
dwedge@bostonherald.com
It is now a Two Man Race John McCain and Mike Huckabee we need to choose one and go forward with th republican party.
It's a big mistake to vote for Obama.I'm surprised that Obama was able to brain wash Christians to vote for him.Islam&moslems are dangerous on United State.This is not about racism,but about giving the ownership to terrorist.None of the Christians can get a job in a moslem Government.How can you vote for one that beleive in a religion that teach it's believers to hate,and kill Christians And Jews.
what an intelligent thought...so much effort and research backs that statement up
Mry Abraham, I have only one thing to say to you, HUH!
I think McCain is the best of the repubs, if he wins then the general election will be a fight to the finish. Romney will lose because of the extreme nature of the evangelical vote, Huckabee will drive more independents to the dems, Rudy and Fred are already done. I do believe that age and health will be the real question about McCain though.
Sen. McCain is the only GOP candidate that can pull people from all factions of the GOP party. He has a lock on the neo-conservative security hawks, he is a superstar among deficit hawks tired of wasteful spending. Even among social conservatives with whom he's sometimes clashed, he still shares their positions on abortion, etc unlike Giuliani. He will probabaly lose about 10% of the GOP vote b/c of his policy on illegal immigration. His weakest link is the "CLub for Growth" pro-business conservatives b/c of his past positions on taxes but he can overcome that with a pledge to stick with the President's tax cuts, which he is.

Outside the GOP, he and Giuliani are the 2 GOP'ers who probably have the best pull with independents. As for voters who look at the personal qualities of a leader, who has a grander biography than McCain? No one.

I think Sen. McCain if he can keep most of his base together, can defeat Clinton OR Obama.
McCain is the only candidate who can lead us to victory in Iraq, and with Ron Paul no longer viable, McCain is also the only remaining credible fiscal conservative.

Huckabee's positions are farther from the mainstream than Ron Paul's, and he cannot say no to spending.  Four years is a very long time for Mitt Romney to hold his latest views.  Fred Thompson is already being ignored by the media, and we know how far Ron Paul went under those circumstances.  Guiliani is willing to sacrifice everything America stands for to make negligible gains in security.  That would give the terrorists a victory they could never dream of achieving by force of arms.  He is also so liberal that conservatives will flock to a third party conservative, maybe Ron Paul.  In the face of the ultra-liberal Democratic field, Republicans cannot afford to split their supporters.
Mry Abraham- Obama is a Christian.  Even if he was muslim, you are incredibly mistaken about what that religion teaches.  Try researching it sometime.  It teaches tolerance, peace, and love.  Don't blame the muslims as a whole for the acts of the Jihadists- that's like blaiming all of christianity for the acts of Hitler and the KKK.  Good grief.


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