- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Red Sox Ace Makes Pitch for McCain
Email
ShareDecember 05, 2007 12:58 PM
ABC News' Bret Hovell reports from Manchester, NH: Senator John McCain has spent twenty-five days in New Hampshire since Labor Day, and on most of those days he's filled up school cafeterias, firehouses or auditoriums with voters interested in getting to know him during a town hall meeting.
Wednesday night, the auditorium of the Derryfield School in Manchester, NH, right in the heart of Red Sox Nation, was full for an additional reason: Curt Schilling was sharing the stage with the Arizona Republican.
Schilling, who endorsed McCain in November, spoke of the Senator's authenticity as a candidate.
"As you listen to him speak, you understand that he wasn't born a politician," the Red Sox ace said. "That’s a beautiful thing for me."
Schilling, of the bloody sock and 11-2 playoff record, was greeted by attendees of the Politics and Sports town hall meeting with reverence. He was thanked many times for his role in ending the 86-year World Series drought that had plagued the Red Sox until 2004, when Schilling led the team not only to a victory over the hated New York Yankees, but to the championship a few weeks later.
"Curt," said one fan, "you and the rest of your teammates changed all of us in New England. We no longer expect to do real well and ultimately fail. We felt that way for a long time."
McCain, for his part, predicted Tuesday that the pair would draw a big crowd.
"I would imagine that there are a few Red Sox fans who will be there tomorrow who wouldn't ordinarily be interested in seeing me," he told reporters with a chuckle.
But despite the outpouring of approval for Schilling, it was questions for McCain that dominated the evening. Almost everyone who stood to address the pair used the opportunity to acknowledge or thank Schilling, but quiz McCain, on everything from healthcare to global warming to the war in Iraq.
Schilling got his share of tough questions too.
"What planet is Manny [Ramirez, the Red Sox left fielder] really from?" asked one fan.
"I don't know, the planet where World Series Champions are from?" Schilling replied.
"When is [Red Sox pitcher] Josh Beckett going to dance for us?" asked another.
"You don’t want to see that," Schilling said, convincingly.
One fan even hoped Schilling would make a run for Senate in Massachusetts.
"You know what? I'm going to stick to winning one more World Series," Schilling replied.
And the crowd went wild.
At a press conference after the event, Zachary Speigel, a young contributor to Scholastic News, questioned McCain as he stood alongside Schilling.
"Why should my parents vote for you?" the cub reporter asked McCain.
The Senator replied in a serious tone, "So you can grow up in a safe and secure world."
Honing his journalistic instincts, Speigel, 10, then asked about the skyrocketing price of college tuition.
Afterward, ABC News asked Spiegel if he was impressed (watch the video by clicking here) to which he replied, "I think he was a pretty good representative...because I'm a kid, I don't know who to vote for."
Speigel has covered the campaigns of former Senator John Edwards, D-N.C., and Senator Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., so far this campaign season and he may get to see Senator Barack Obama, D-Ill., with Oprah on Sunday.
But, perhaps, after all that, it will still be Schilling that gets his vote.
Get all the latest political news from the 2008 campaign trail every day in The Note.
December 5, 2007 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (19)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
bush wasn't bad enough now he's got to push mccain on us?
he should stick to baseball and shut the hell up. plus he should apologize for bush.
phil .a
Posted by: phillip alegata | Dec 5, 2007 2:07:32 PM
Schilling should stick to his pitching and stay away from politics. He backed Bush before and see what happened? I love him as a gutsy pitcher, but his political view makes me want to turn off the TV on Red Sox games.
Posted by: Xiaer | Dec 5, 2007 2:08:34 PM
As a die-hard Red Sox fan, I've got to profess my appriciation of Schilling. That said, his political views are messed up. (Yes, he does have the right to express them, just as I have the right to point out how wrong they are.)
He endorsed Bush in 2004 and doesn't regret that decision. Hopefully people will realize his candidate of choice is one to be avoided.
Still, Go Red Sox!
Posted by: Bing | Dec 5, 2007 2:12:29 PM
Great picture:
Bad chooser of Political partners.
Curt, I'm a long time Sox fan, all the way back to the impossible dream years.
Wake up. Mccain will never make it, and you know it.
Maybe give him a bloody sock to wear, maybe that will raise it approval ratings in the Presidential election.
He'll never make it. There are too many of your fellow crooks out there running for the Republican ticket. One is a rapist lover, and the other, is a womanizer.
You lost a % of my integrity points with you, because your just not thinking.
Posted by: JustMy2CentsWorth | Dec 5, 2007 2:13:57 PM
go curt,,,,,
Posted by: rick | Dec 5, 2007 2:18:59 PM
I guess that I'm just echoing what others have already posted, when I comment that although Mr. Schilling is a really good baseball player, why would anyone listen to the political opinions of a professional athlete who's abilities are simply throwing a ball? (rhet.)
Sheeeesh, I've been throwing a ball since I was two. Anyone care about my politics? Nope.....
Posted by: John Re | Dec 5, 2007 2:27:46 PM
Stick to baseball. Your political views are little league.
Posted by: dano | Dec 5, 2007 3:01:24 PM
Wow, McCain has the support of a big mouthed egotist who loves to hear himself spout his belligerent opinions about everything from politics to Barry Bonds. Who cares what Schilling has to say? He's a moron who should shut up and play ball.
Posted by: jason c | Dec 5, 2007 3:36:07 PM
This die hard Red Sox appreciates your Base Ball loyalty, bloodie sox effort, and helping the win the 07 world series...but puuulease keep your politics to yourself..
Posted by: zorar | Dec 5, 2007 3:53:28 PM
Schilling should apologize for voting for Bush in '04? Pretty funny stuff. Someone else mentions he doesn't "think" therefor he voted for Bush.
As an independent, it is comments like these which make it hard for me to vote Democrat.
Posted by: John | Dec 5, 2007 4:01:32 PM
I see. Everyone thinks Schilling should shut up, but when Oprah, Sean Penn, or some other actor with a high school education talks we're supposed to take note.
Posted by: smugrg | Dec 5, 2007 4:01:42 PM
Shilling gets the "Just shut-up" award...blog that!
Posted by: Ithaca | Dec 5, 2007 4:38:15 PM
>As an independent, it is comments like >these which make it hard for me to >vote Democrat.
>John | Dec 5, 2007 4:01:32 PM
As for Schilling, he was on Jeapordy a few months back and got maybe 1-2 questions right. real embarassing. your typical dumb jock...
Posted by: Zaptooth | Dec 5, 2007 4:49:34 PM
I lost ALOT of respect for John McLame. He
wants the presidency soooooo baaaaad that
he will even LIE. I hear his Arizona constituents are trying to RECALL him for
SELLING OUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. McCain will follow in Bush's footsteps. MCCAIN IS
DANGEROUS AND DOSEN'T HAVE A CHANCE.
Posted by: Tom | Dec 5, 2007 5:27:56 PM
Kurt Schilling has an IQ of AN amoeba -- I have never seen a less inteligent person in my life
Posted by: Soxfan101 | Dec 5, 2007 7:03:56 PM
Curt supports McCain on a personal level, because he admires the guy's personal background and character. But, if you go to Curt's blog's announcement of his support for McCain, it is pretty clear that Curt is much more liberal or libertarian than McCain or those who fragged him in 2000. Personally anti-abortion, but believes "that decision is way beyond any one person to control or decide on." Supports the right ot bear arms, but also objects to "13 year old children bringing guns into our schools" and says "who the hell needs to own an assualt weapon." Reading his blog, it sounds like he opposes jsut about every NRA measure passed in the last 8 years. More spending on teachers, fireman, and police salaries, even if taxes have to go up. I'm sure the McCain haters on the right will see Schilling as revealing the secret thoughts of McCain.
Posted by: jon | Dec 6, 2007 8:02:25 AM
Big Red Sox fan. Big Curt Schilling hater. Not only should he shut the hell up, he should stop pitching. He isn't very good anymore.
Posted by: Michael | Dec 6, 2007 10:34:58 AM
Well, I REALLY disagree but if actors can support Democratic candidates, he has the right. None of it should be news though. And he painted that sock with a magic marker. I mean, c'mon! The spot never got bigger throughout the entire game.
Posted by: TSnow27604 | Dec 6, 2007 4:25:39 PM
New Report: Among active-duty military, veterans and their families, only 36 percent say it was worth going to war in Iraq. This compares with an Annenberg survey taken in 2004, one year after the invasion, which showed that 64 percent of service members and their families supported the war.
The views of veterans and their families are now closer in line with overall public sentiment. The poll shows that 32 percent of the general population supports the war.
McCain is history due to his pro-war dogma.
Posted by: Greg | Dec 7, 2007 1:29:16 AM
Post a comment
