Today's McCain Blogger Call - 1:00PM AZ Time - from South Carolina

Sen. JOHN McCAIN held his weekly McCain Blogger Conference Call this afternoon from Rock Hill, SC.

McCain announced the campaign had held 3 events (Spartenburg, Greenburg, & Charleston, SC) with 2 more events scheduled for later today. Crowds have been SRO and enthusiastic.

OK Senator Tom Coburn, who endorsed McCain for President, traveled with the campaign today in South Carolina. SC Senator Lindsey Graham was also with them.

Senator McCain has a slight cold (so do I), but he sounded in high spirits.

McCain called Gov. Romney last night to congratulate him on his MI victory. He went on to tell us that he told the 'truth' to the people of MI; many of the mfg jobs won't be coming back. McCain emphasized that the re-training of the MI job force is the key. 21st Century jobs will be high-tech and need highly trained workers.

Q & A with Senator McCain

The 1st question asked was about Israel and Jim Baker, Pres Reagan's former Chief of Staff. John McCain said his 24 year record of support of Israel speaks for itself.

In the 2nd question, McCain was asked if he could relay a story about his days as a prisoner in Vietnam. He told the story of Mark Christian, a fellow prisoner. Mike would make American Flags in his cell out of thread. The Vietnamese found this and severely beat him and the other prisoners. That didn't stop Mike. He kept right on making those Flags. Sen. McCain says a day doesn't go by that he doesn't think about Mike Christian.

Question #3 from Faustas Blog: She asked about the Job Training Programs that McCain mentioned in MI. McCain said the reason the existing programs fail is that they don't involve local businesses into the programs. McCain's Plan is to get Business & the Community Colleges in sync with each other to invent new methods of re-training these workers.

#4 - Jim Garrity - National Review: He asked if McCain knew that Romney cut off his speech last night. McCain answered: No he didn't know at the time, but he was told of it later by an aide. The he asked McCain if his campaign had enough money for the Feb 5th Super Tuesday Primaries. McCain answered that yes he does.

The campaign has ALREADY purchased TV ads in SC, FL and
beyond. "The money will be there", said McCain.

#5 - VICKI HAMPTON - McCAIN MONITOR (& A McCain Victory08 Blogger): She asked if the Iraq War was a mistake? McCain said NO. Saddam Hussein had killed 600,000 of his own people. McCain opposed the way former Sec. Rumsfeld ran the War. McCain was one of the only GOP politicians to do that. John McCain said he is willing to stake his political career on the success of the surge. Congratulations Vicki, Great Job!!!

#6 Matt Lewis - Townhall.com: Lewis asked about the endorsement from Sen. Tom Coburn. Lewis tried to bait McCain but he didn't fall for it.
Senators McCain & Corbun have
stood up against Pork projects (Earmarks) in the Senate. Then Lewis asked about the Push Polling going on in SC. McCain said that his campaign was aware of it and that the 'McCain Truth Squads' would be throughout SC to answer any distortions.

#7 Jennifer Rubin: She said McCain was being accused by Romney of being a "pessimist". She wanted to know what McCain's Economic Plans entailed. McCain again asserted that he told the voter of MI the truth. The key to new jobs is the new technologies, such as what he saw in Detroit at the Auto Show. Innovation of new ideas with more R & D will help create new jobs in those slow markets. McCain wants to make the Tax Cuts permanent. (Yes he votes against them because they did NOT have the Budget Cuts needed to offset the deficit).

#8 Michael Goldfarb The Weekly Standard: he was 'perplexed' by McCain's Global Warming stances. McCain said that

the Republican Party better start getting with the
issues on the Environment or they will lose the younger
voters.