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McCain Laughs Off Concerns for Age, Health

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January 02, 2008 11:32 AM

ABC's Ron Claiborne and Bret Hovell report:  As Sen. John McCain's campaign appears to be gaining momentum, at least in the polls in Iowa and New Hampshire, the oldest candidate in the race can't escape the occassional question about his age and health.

At his first campaign stop this morning in New Hampshire, McCain, R-AZ, was asked by a voter at a town hall meeting if he has the "health and endurance to do eight years."

McCain is 71 years old, and if elected president, would be the oldest US president ever inaugurated.

McCain laughed off the question of whether he has the stamina to serve in the White House for eight years. If he did serve that many years, he would leave the presidency at age 80.

"If I said I was running for eight years, I'm not sure that would be a vote getter" he joked with the crowd.

McCain had surgery to remove two cancerous melanomas seven years ago.

McCain noted that his nonagenarian mother has campaigned with him, proving "how good my gene pool is." Roberta McCain is 95 years old.

"My health is good. My campaign schedule is heavier than anyone else and I feel very vigorous," McCain told the voter. But he insisted on focusing on his effort to win this election -- and did not encourage looking ahead to whether he would seek reelection, if he wins the White House this time.

"I think the decision whether to run for re-election depends on the circumstances at the time. You don't run for eight years ... I'm running for a four-year term," McCain said.
 

After trailing badly in the Republican polls, nationally and in the key early states, Iowa and New Hampshire, McCain seems to be making a resurgence in recent days.

McCain is keeping up a hectic schedule. He campaigned this morning in New Hampshire and then flies to Iowa for rallies this afternoon in Dubuque and Davenport.  He turns to New Hampshire again tomorrow.

After trailing badly in Iowa for months, McCain's campaign is now hoping for a third place finish there in Thursday's caucus.

January 2, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (16)

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John:
Thank you for your service. Now go retire to the desert amongst all of the illegal aliens you let come into this country.

Posted by: Apollo | Jan 2, 2008 12:55:32 PM

How come everybody else has to retire at 65 (or 63) but not politicians?

Posted by: BigT | Jan 2, 2008 1:03:05 PM

What do you look for in a President? For me, John McCain has the qualities and experience that fit the job. As a former POW he was tested by fire and showed his dedication to his country and his commitment to his fellow man. He speaks the truth and doesn't change his answers to suit his audience. In a field of imperfect candidates, he comes closest to the ideal.

Posted by: Apple Annie | Jan 2, 2008 1:51:45 PM

Is his running mate going to be Dick Cheney?

Posted by: Sandra Lea | Jan 2, 2008 1:57:06 PM

This guy has not had the toughest campaign schedule...He all but dissappeared for months, and wrote off IA and SC.

Posted by: Nick | Jan 2, 2008 2:14:14 PM

This guy needs to go back to Arizona and watch the sunset..Give it up he has have been sucking at the public trough all your life..It is time to give it up.Sit on his front porch and trade war stories with his beloved Liar In Chief. Bush can tell him about all the beer cans he shot down before he went AWOL from the Air National Guard.

Posted by: Joe MUrphy | Jan 2, 2008 2:26:06 PM

At least McCain served unlike Bush and Cheney and the other GOP chickenhawks. The problem is McCain still thinks it's 1965. We need fresh ideas,no more warmongerers,and failed GOP policies.

Posted by: AJ | Jan 2, 2008 2:55:30 PM

His age has no effect on his ability to govern. Calling him the oldest candidate in the race is nothing but BS however, as the top GOP fund raiser of the 4th Quarter, Ron Paul, is 1 year older.

Posted by: Joe LaBargo | Jan 2, 2008 3:06:18 PM

John McCain was hung by his arms till they almost came out of their sockets in Vietnam. He was there for over 5 years. He probably got it worst than others because of his father's rank. His health was good and will remain good. Thank you John McCain for all you have done for the United States. I will not forget you.

Posted by: Chris | Jan 2, 2008 3:23:05 PM

I have voted Democrat most of my life but I think of all the Candidates running, I may go with McCain. I've done a great deal of research and he is a tried and true patriot that I would be proud to have as President. This man has nine lives, I am hardly concerned about his age. Foreign policy is a HUGE concern right now and as far as I can see, he is tough and extremely knowledgable...do your homework people.

Posted by: sharon | Jan 2, 2008 5:03:48 PM

Oh and by the way, He HAS butted heads with Bush many times! This man was offered release from captivity when he was a P.O.W and refused to leave the others behind which resulted in another nearly 5 years as a tortured prisoner..Can you get any more tough or patriotic than that!? Wonder what Mitt might have done? Or most anyone really...This is who deserves to be in the oval office, in my book.

Posted by: sharon | Jan 2, 2008 5:10:44 PM

If you support amnesty for illegal immigrants, you have only ONE clear choice in this election: AMNESTY-JOHN McCain. You can rest assured that after another half-hearted effort at "securing our boarders", AMNESTY-JOHN, if elected president - or otherwise - will do everything in his power to #### on those legal immigrants awaiting for citizenship, and immediately grant full citizenship status to all those that illegally entered our country (with the usual BS that they "learn" English ;) and pay a "fine" ;)). Don't be fooled by cheap imitators like the Huskster - who will only use your tax dollars for more benefits for illegals, or Rudy "Sanctuary City" Giuliani, who just looks the other way whenever an illegal approaches. So, if 1. you've always wanted to have to learn spanish, or 2. you really want your town to achieve the coveted "barrio" status, or 3. you enjoy lower wages, or 4. you want all those empty spaces in the local prison filled, or 5. you want to pay even more hospital costs for ANCHOR babies --- THEN AMNESTY-JOHN IS YOUR GUY! ¡

Posted by: ALEX H. | Jan 2, 2008 5:11:04 PM

Why don't you become a realist! There are about 12 million illegal immigrants in this country. How do you deal with them. Do you go to war, or do you do the right thing. These are people too. John fought a war in Vietnam and dreamed of home. Home of the free and the brave. He believes in building up his home and not destroying the people he dreadmed of. And, by the way he does not offer amnesty. That word was started by people who want to attack him. In the program which failed to get any where, the people had to pay a fine, go back to their country of origin, and then later things become what you call amnesty. It will all go on their record. They get a record to carry around with them. Do you actually believe that he has not offerred a realistic way to make many people happy.

In closing, John has an adopted daughter, I think, who looks like she is from South America. I'm not sure. His daughter has probably forced him to make decisions that he may not have wanted to make otherwise.

Posted by: Chris | Jan 2, 2008 6:00:08 PM

I believe that John McCain is the best choice because he will save us from all the radicals

Why choose second best if you can get the best. The best person who will protect the United States people.

Because of John's service in the military he has the right stuff embedded into his bones.

If we the people do not wish to protect ourselves then some more people will have to learn how to pray a different way (on the ground).

We can not just decide we want to end a war. What would have happened if on December 7, 1943 we decided to exit WWII.

Our enemies will not go away. We have to gather our forces together and repel them with our best weapons. John McCain can save us from other acts of terrorism such as occurred on September 11, 2001.

They hit us then and if we give up our first line of defense (Iraq support) we will be forced to rely on our second line of defense, our policemen, the FBI, and the CIA. This second line of defense can not be underestimated or overstimated. But, I deeply feel that if the media and our politicians do not want to keep our beliefs safe then the second line of defense will become weaker. At that time, (it could be a month, a year, or a few years away), we will witness other attacks on our soil.

Remember, Rome fell so could the United States.

Posted by: Chris | Jan 2, 2008 8:15:49 PM

John adopted his daughter, who is from Bangladesh, in 1992.

Posted by: Chris | Jan 3, 2008 11:50:50 AM

John McCain is a tired, old "has been". He is as two faced at George W. Bush on the issues. If he wins the nomination, we are all in big trouble. We need John McCain in the White House like we need a hole in the head. Face it John, you're an old man. Do us all a favor and retire!

Posted by: realsister | Jan 3, 2008 4:29:40 PM

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