McCain: Dobson to endorse?
Posted: Monday, July 21, 2008 9:15 AM by Domenico Montanaro
The AP reports, “Conservative Christian leader James Dobson has softened his stance against Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, saying he could reverse his position and endorse the Arizona senator despite serious misgivings. ‘I never thought I would hear myself saying this,’ Dobson said in a radio broadcast to air Monday. ‘... While I am not endorsing Senator John McCain, the possibility is there that I might.’”
More: “Earlier, Dobson had said he could not in good conscience vote for McCain, citing the candidate's support for embryonic stem cell research and opposition to a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, as well as concerns about McCain's temper and foul language.”
Also on the evangelical front, the New York Times notes that the “Rev. Rick Warren has persuaded the candidates to attend a forum at his Saddleback Church, in Lake Forest, Calif., on Aug. 16. In an interview, Mr. Warren said over the weekend that the presidential candidates would appear together for a moment but that he would interview them in succession at his megachurch.”
The New York Times profiles McCain’s evolution as a dealmaker in the Senate. “Previously a marginal player better known for heckling the Senate than for influencing it, Mr. McCain returned from the 2000 campaign with a new national reputation and a new political sophistication. Over the next eight years, he mastered the art of political triangulation -- variously teaming up with Mr. Lott against the president or the new Republican leaders, with Democrats against Republicans, and with the president against the Democrats -- to become perhaps the chamber’s most influential member.”
McCain didn't make Michigan’s auto industry happy when he said Friday he'd support states' rights to impose their own emissions standards rather than abide by a nationwide standard. "Later Friday, a senior campaign aide sought to clarify McCain's position. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said McCain supports the ability of states to impose regulations until a national ‘cap and trade’ program to limit carbon emissions, something McCain has proposed, is in place. Once carbon caps are established, the aide said, McCain would oppose state regulations. ‘It makes a lot more sense to regulate carbon at the federal level because you're talking about a federal, a global, problem,’ the aide said."
Popular House conservative Mike Pence believes McCain should name some of his cabinet, not just a VP, in order to get conservatives excited about his candidacy. "I think John McCain would do well to build a team and a ticket that has a wow factor for conservatives," Pence said in an interview. "There's still some angst out there over John McCain's commitment to the conservative agenda."
McCain yesterday took in a Yankees game with Giuliani.
Here's the New York Daily News with a photo of them in Giuliani's box. No Yankees (or Diamondbacks) cap for McCain. Navy instead.
And McCain joked around with Conan O'Brien. "O'Brien asked McCain for something else to joke about other than McCain's age. McCain pretended to doze off, and slouched in his chair. 'You just gave a lot of people a scare,' O'Brien said."
