McCain Says Ohio To See Lots Of Him By Carl Chancellor, Akron Beacon Journal

February 26, 2008

PARMA: ''Mac is back! Mac is back!''

For a second time the crowd of about 50 took up the chant as they crammed into the compact dinning room of the Colonial Eatery Family Restaurant in this Cleveland suburb.

The first attempt, minutes earlier, to give Sen. John McCain a rousing welcome dwindled to just one or two hoarse voices after the Republican presidential front-runner was waylaid by supporters in the parking lot.

The crowd didn't mind waiting a few minutes more.

When McCain, escorted by former Sen. Mike DeWine, did enter the diner Monday evening, he was enveloped by an enthusiastic outpouring of cheers and applause.

''Isn't it great to have the next president of the United States in Parma today?'' DeWine shouted above the din.

''He is going to be here in Ohio many, many more times,'' DeWine added, underscoring the importance of the state in
winning the White House in November.

McCain agreed, saying: ''Ever since 1964, whoever wanted to be president had to win Ohio. So you might get a little weary of seeing me.''

While saying he ''respects Gov. Mike Huckabee and his desire to remain in this contest,'' McCain nonetheless all but promised a win in next week's primary.

''I intend to get the nomination, and I intend to
be the president of the United States,''

he said.

McCain's confidence was reflected in his 10-minute speech, which looked past the primary and was aimed at his still unknown Democratic opponent.

After thanking Ohioans in the military for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan, McCain said that setting a date for withdrawal from Iraq is wrong and would allow al-Qaida to ''declare victory.''

Instead, McCain said he would continue to press the strategy ''that is succeeding, which means we win the war and bring our troops back home with honor.''

ECONOMIC ISSUES

The Arizona senator turned to pocketbook issues and said he realizes that Ohio is facing economic challenges made worse by the dramatic downturn in the state's housing market.
''The best thing we can do is lower taxes, lower interest rates and you have more money to spend,'' McCain said.

He said he would make the Bush tax cuts permanent and push for expanded educational opportunities for workers who lose their jobs.

''And, we have to embrace green technologies to
move our economy forward,'' he said. ''The heartland of America deserves it, and
I'm committed to it.''

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