2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

John McCain Straight Talk Town Hall Photos Lakeville Minnesota

John McCain Straight Talk Town Hall Photos Lakeville Minnesota

McCain-Palin 2008 Launches New TV Ad: "Ambition"

MCCAIN-PALIN 2008 LAUNCHES NEW TV AD: "AMBITION"

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, McCain-Palin 2008 released its latest television ad, entitled "Ambition." The ad highlights Barack Obama's blind ambition that led him to work with unrepentant domestic terrorist Bill Ayers, but when running for president, lie about his longstanding relationship and his bad judgment. Like Barack Obama, his Congressional liberal allies demonstrated their bad judgment in fighting for risky sub-prime loans and against more regulation. Today, millions of Americans are paying for the bad judgment Barack Obama and Congressional liberals demonstrated concerning housing policy. The ad will be televised nationally.

Script For "Ambition" (TV :30)

ANNCR: Obama's blind ambition.

When convenient, he worked with terrorist Bill Ayers.

When discovered, he lied.

Obama. Blind ambition. Bad judgment.

Congressional liberals fought for risky sub-prime loans.

Congressional liberals fought against more regulation.

Then, the housing market collapsed costing you billions.

In crisis, we need leadership, not bad judgment.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

John McCain "Road To Victory Rally" In Davenport, Iowa

Road to Victory Rally with John McCain in Davenport, IA

John McCain will be in Davenport this Saturday, October 11th. To attend the event, please come in to one of the ticket locations below to get a free ticket.

The River Center
136 E. 3rd Street
Davenport, IA 52801

RSVP line: 515-418-9322

Doors open: 8:30 AM, program begins at 10:30 AM.

Free Ticket Locations:

Eastern Iowa Victory Office
1880 E. 54th Street
Davenport, IA 52807
Hours: 9:00am-8:00pm

Northeast Iowa Victory Office
2560 Dodge Street
Dubuque, IA 52003
Hours: 9:00am-8:00pm

Cedar Rapids Area Victory Office
2240 7th Ave East, Suite 5
Marion, Iowa
Hours: 9:00am-8:00pm

Johnson County Regional Victory Office
411 Second Street
Coralville, IA 52241
Hours: 9:00am-8:00pm

Polk County Victory Office
2775 86th Street
Urbandale IA
Hours: 9am to 9pm

*Guests are encouraged to arrive early and are subject to security screening. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: oversized bags, food and beverages of any kind, weapons, and signs (homemade or otherwise). The U.S. Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any other items that are deemed hazardous.

Please wear Republican Red

McCain-Palin 2008 Launches New TV Ad: "Folks"

MCCAIN-PALIN 2008 LAUNCHES NEW TV AD: "FOLKS"

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, McCain-Palin 2008 released its latest television ad, entitled "Folks." The ad highlights Barack Obama's defense of his extreme liberal voting record by accusing others of lying. Despite Barack Obama's protests, the truth is very clear that Barack Obama is the most liberal member of the United States Senate. The ad will be televised nationally.

Script For "Folks" (TV :30)

ANNCR: Who is Barack Obama? The National Journal says he's the Senate's most liberal.

How extreme. But when pressed, how does he defend himself?

BARACK OBAMA: They're not telling the truth.

I hate to say that people are lying, but here's a situation where folks are lying.

ANNCR: Mr. Obama, we all know the truth.

BARACK OBAMA: Folks are lying.

ANNCR: Not presidential.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

John McCain Announces American Homeownership Resurgence Plan At Tonight's Debate In Nashville

JOHN MCCAIN ANNOUNCES AMERICAN HOMEOWNERSHIP RESURGENCE PLAN

Tonight John McCain announced his plan to keep families in their homes, avoid foreclosures, save failing neighborhoods, stabilize the housing market and attack the roots of our financial crisis.

The McCain Resurgence Plan would purchase mortgages directly from homeowners and mortgage servicers, and replace them with manageable, fixed-rate mortgages that will keep families in their homes. By purchasing the existing, failing mortgages the McCain resurgence plan will eliminate uncertainty over defaults, support the value of mortgage-backed derivatives and alleviate risks that are freezing financial markets.

The McCain resurgence plan would be available to mortgage holders that:
Live in the home (primary residence only)
Can prove their creditworthiness at the time of the original loan (no falsifications and provided a down payment).

The new mortgage would be an FHA-guaranteed fixed-rate mortgage at terms manageable for the homeowner. The direct cost of this plan would be roughly $300 billion because the purchase of mortgages would relieve homeowners of "negative equity" in some homes.

Funds provided by Congress in the recent financial market stabilization bill can be used for this purpose; indeed by stabilizing mortgages it will likely be possible to avoid some purposes previously assumed needed in that bill. The plan could be implemented quickly as a result of the authorities provided in the stabilization bill, the recent housing bill, and the U.S. government's conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It may be necessary for Congress to raise the overall borrowing limit.

What They're Saying About John McCain At The Nashville Presidential Debate Volume 2

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT JOHN MCCAIN AT THE NASHVILLE DEBATE VOLUME 2

CNN's David Gergen: "I thought John McCain was more effective than he was last time on domestic policy. I thought his answers in general were more organized and he made his points more effectively." (CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360," 10/7/08)

Fox News' Charles Krauthammer: "McCain won the first hour on domestic (issues)." (Fox News' "Presidential Debate," 10/7/08)

ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "I thought Senator McCain started out very strong when he said we have to address this financial crisis by having a plan to buy up all of the bad mortgages in the country showed real compassion and empathy there..." (ABC's "The Candidates Debate," 10/7/08)

· Stephanopoulos: "I was also struck in the way that both candidates handled the stage tonight ... As we know Senator McCain wanted these town hall meetings all year long against Senator Obama. He made a crack against that. He is comfortable in this setting." (ABC's "The Candidates Debate," 10/7/08)

ABC's Charlie Gibson: "I do think if there was any new proposal in the debate, it was what John McCain said about buying up the struggling home loan mortgages and renegotiate them at a new value, have the government do that." (ABC's "The Candidates Debate," 10/7/08)

The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza: "Nice moment for McCain: he claps a man (Terry Scherry) who asks about Iran on the shoulder and they shake hands." (Chris Cillizza, "The Nashville Skyline Debate," The Washington Post's "The Fix" Blog, www.washingtonpost.com, 10/7/08)

NBC's Chuck Todd: "[M]cCain did get stronger, I think, as the night went on. When it turned to foreign policy, you can see his comfort zone and you could see him getting more comfortable " (NBC's "Presidential Debate Coverage," 10/7/08)

NBC's Andrea Mitchell: "I think he was very comfortable in the format ... McCain was walking around approaching some of the questioners. Thanking them. Actually coming quite close to them. ... And as Chuck has pointed out, with the economy in such a tail spin, he came armed with a new proposal to have the government buy up failing mortgages ... That was a gutsy move." (NBC's "Presidential Debate Coverage," 10/7/08)

The Politico's Ben Smith: "Really, the first of the night. McCain takes a question from a Navy veteran. 'Everything I ever learned about leadership, I learned from chief petty officer,' he says, walking over to the man and patting his shoulder." (Ben Smith, "A Connection," The Politico's "Ben Smith" Blog, www.politico.com, 10/7/08)

Commentary's Jennifer Rubin: "On Afghanistan, Iraq and Russia McCain talks in action words what we will do, what will work and what our goals will be. Although he obviously wants to assure voters he will show restraint, his real strength is projecting a force of will and determination." (Jennifer Rubin, "National Security," Commentary's "Contentions" Blog, www.commentarymagazine.com, 10/7/08)

National Review's Mark Levin: "And he has shown more energy than usual. Obama is supposed to be the great orator (what happened to the messiah and the fainting?). The 72-year-old McCain has the upper-hand on the 47-year-old messiah, IMHO." (Mark Levin, "In Defense Of McCain," National Review's "The Corner" Blog, corner.nationalreview.com, 10/7/08)

CNN's Bill Bennett: "The last comments [John McCain] made, I thought, were quite impressive and quite moving." (CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360," 10/7/08)

What They're Saying About John McCain At The Nashville Presidential Debate

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT JOHN MCCAIN AT THE NASHVILLE DEBATE

ABC News' Rick Klein: "[M]cCain is roaming the stage, playing to his strength. And comes out with a policy proposal to help people stay in their homes -- a strong lead answer, to have a meaty response to that. McCain looks confident early." (Rick Klein, "Live Debate Blog," ABC News' "Live Debate Blog," blogs.abcnews.com, 10/7/08)

The New York Times' Katharine Q. Seelye: "Mr. McCain is developing a chatty rapport with Mr. Brokaw about the candidates exceeding their time limits. He seems relaxed, as if he knows he is making a connection on a personal level. He roams the stage. Mr. Obama, who once stood in front of classes as a college professor, stands still while delivering his answers, and this one on health care sounds more like a lecture." (Katharine Q. Seelye, "McCain Warms To The Setting," The New York Times' "The Caucus" Blog, thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com, 10/7/08)

The Politico's Jonathan Martin: "McCain, taking a question from a naval retiree, gives him a pat on the shoulder and a firm handshake. 'Everything I ever learned about leadership, I learned from a chief petty officer,' says one old sailor to another. It was surely a moment that won a lot of nodding heads from vets all over the country." (Jonathan Martin, "Vets And Servicemembers Had To Love This Moment," The Politico's "Jonathan Martin" Blog, www.politico.com, 10/7/08)

· Martin: "McCain unveils a new pork-barrel project to be condemned: an overhead projector for a planetarium in Chicago that was included in Obama's earmarks." (Jonathan Martin, "The New Bears In Montana!!!" The Politico's "Jonathan Martin" Blog, www.politico.com, 10/7/08)

· Martin: "A strong close by the GOPer with: 'We can't afford somebody who needs on the job training, my friend.'" (Jonathan Martin, "McCain In Comfort Zone On National Security," The Politico's "Jonathan Martin" Blog, www.politico.com, 10/7/08)

· Martin: "Right at the outset, [McCain] offers empathy: 'Americans are angry, they're upset, and they're a little fearful.'" (Jonathan Martin, "McCain's 'I Feel Your Pain' Moment," The Politico's "Jonathan Martin" Blog, www.politico.com, 10/7/08)

CNN's Candy Crowley: "McCain seemed to answer first question [on a rescuing main street] better." (Candy Crowley, "How Tough Is Too Tough?" CNN's "Political Ticker" Blog, politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com, 10/7/08)

CNN's Bill Schneider: "That's a pretty fundamental questionshould there be for profit health care? Obama's answer...he's not answering the question." (Bill Schneider, "Obama Not Answering The Question," CNN's "Political Ticker" Blog, www.cnn.com, 10/7/08)

· Schneider: "McCain's tone is better at talking to the audience..." (Bill Schneider, "Are The Candidates Relating To The Audience," CNN's politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com, 10/7/08)

MSNBC's Pat Buchanan: "I think McCain did come in with more heart and more fight. And I agree with you, he was the aggressor. He was throwing the punches. He did it in a better way than he did it last week when I thought he had won on points. Here he smiled. He looked at his opponent. He looked at Tom Brokaw. He talked to the audience, and he did it in a more calm fashion. And I think he clearly scored more points than Barack Obama did." (MSNBC, 10/7/08)

National Review's Lisa Schiffren: "Is it necessary to explain the basics? McCain is doing really well with the audience in the room by doing so. Does it translate to the TV audience? McCain is really sounding clear, energetic and firm." (Lisa Schiffren, "Talking Down To The Audience," National Review's "The Corner" Blog, corner.nationalreview.com, 10/7/08)

Commentary's John Podhoretz: "This is McCain's mantra. I know how. I know how. Here's what I will do." (John Podhoretz, "I Know How To Do That," Commentary's "Contentions" Blog, www.commentarymagazine.com, 10/7/08)

Commentary's Daniel Casse: "[M]cCain is delivering tight, crisp, and extremely effective answers. Every answer has a similar structure: (a) I care about this issue (b) I've stood up against Bush/special interests on this issue (c) Obama has never taken a stand, never acted on this (d) so let's compare records." (Daniel Casse, "McCain's Well-Structured Answers," Commentary's "Contentions" Blog, www.commentarymagazine.com, 10/7/08)

Statement From McCain-Palin 2008 Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker on tonight's Presidential Debate

STATEMENT FROM MCAIN-PALIN COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR JILL HAZELBAKER ON TONIGHT'S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

ARLINGTON, VA -- McCain-Palin 2008 Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker issued the following statement on tonight's Presidential Debate:

"Tonight, John McCain won the debate. He was the only man who demonstrated he had the independence and strength to take on everything that's broken in Washington and on Wall Street. John McCain had a clear plan for improving the lives of Americans -- keeping them in their homes through his American Homeownership Resurgence Plan. From Barack Obama, we heard half-truths and contradictions between what he says and what he has done. He said he supported offshore drilling but has opposed it for months. He talked about tax cuts but he voted for higher taxes 94 times and promises increased taxes on small businesses. He talked about reducing the size of government but has proposed hundreds of billions of dollars in new government spending. Tonight, Barack Obama had an opportunity to level with the American people, but instead all we heard was more of the same."

John McCain Townhall In Lakeville, MN This Friday, October 10, 2008

John McCain Townhall In Lakeville, MN This Friday, October 10, 2008

Senator McCain will be in Minnesota this Friday for a townhall meeting. The event will be held at Lakeville South High School at 4PM. The doors will open at 1PM and the pre-program will begin at 3PM. Please note that parking may be limited and carpooling is advised.

This will be a ticketed event and you must have a ticket to enter. Tickets will be available at the McCain headquarters in Saint Paul (678 Transfer Road) or at the McCain Victory offices around the state.

Ramsey County Victory Office
666 Transfer Rd
St. Paul, MN
(651) 645-5432

Burnsville Victory Office
12225 Wood Lake Dr
Burnsville, MN
(952) 882-9356

Chaska Victory Office
202 Chestnut
Chaska, MN
(952) 882-9356

Long Lake Victory Office
2640 W Industrial Blvd.
Long Lake, MN
(651) 303-4029

Golden Valley Victory Office
1405 N. Lilac Dr.   
Golden Valley, MN
(651) 645-5432

Isanti County Victory Office
1001 Hwy 95, Ste 1005
Cambridge, MN
(763) 689-3606

Eden Prairie Victory Office
6870 Washington Ave
Eden Prairie, MN
(952) 944-1085

St. Cloud Victory Office
1022 4th St SE, Ste 104
St. Cloud, MN 5304
(320) 229-8973

Rochester Victory Office
2535 Hwy 14 W
Rochester, MN
(507) 536-9475

Blaine Victory Office
11025 Radisson Rd NE
Blaine, MN
(763) 780-0861

Moorhead Victory Office
923 Center Ave.
Moorhead, MN
(218) 287-1360

Duluth Victory Office
5 South 13th Ave. E
Duluth, MN 55808
(651) 245-3734