McCain Feels He's Got Staying Power By LIZ SIDOTI

Jan 20, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican John McCain called his victory in South Carolina's presidential primary on Saturday evidence that his campaign "can carry right through" Florida into the giant round of caucuses and primaries on Feb. 5. "I know it's not easy," he told The Associated Press, "and we've got a long way to go."

South Carolina was where McCain's presidential prospects died eight years ago, and he savored the victory this time.

"It just took us awhile, that's all," he said in the interview. "Eight years is not a long time."
This time, he said, "It sure was nice to have a lot of our old friends be happier that we won."
Asked if he was now the front-runner for the GOP nomination, McCain demurred.

"I don't know," he said, "we like to run from behind."

Still, he expressed optimism going forward.

"I'm very confident that we'll win in
Florida,"

he said.

"We showed that the first-in-the-South primary is a very important victory, and it gives us a very important progress that we can carry right through Florida and February 5th," he said.

McCain said he planned to stress pocketbook and national security issues going forward.

"People care about our nation's
security and they're worried about our economy," McCain said.

"I'm going to be talking to them
about those issues and how I'm best qualified to lead the nation."