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McCain to Stick it Out in the Senate, Not Resign
April 09, 2008 7:05 PM
ABC News's Bret Hovell Reports: John McCain said Wednesday that he plans to retain his seat in the Senate while running for president, but also said he will think about whether or not it makes more sense to resign.
McCain was asked whether he would resign this summer, and give his replacement the opportunity to run with McCain at the top of the ticket, rather than wait and resign only if he wins.
"No, I will not," McCain told the crowd at a town hall style meeting in Westport, Connecticut. "I have every confidence that there are a number of Republicans who would be elected in my place. So I do not envision a scenario of resigning my seat."
But McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee and senior senator from Arizona, seemed to consider the pitch as he was speaking.
"I will go back and think about it, and think about the scenario that you just described," he continued. "But right now my intentions are to remain in the United States Senate."
Arizona election law requires that the governor of the state – in Arizona’s case, a Democrat – to appoint someone from the same party as the departing Senator. That person would serve until the next election in 2010.
In the summer of 1996, then-Republican Senate majority leader Bob Dole resigned during his run for the White House. He was defeated by President Clinton.
McCain was also able to earn a laugh on the topic.
"There’s people regularly who ask me to resign," he said jokingly, "but that has nothing to do with my presidential ambitions."
April 9, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (41)
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Of course he won't. People rarely seek to give up power! I don't know why the Amer. public didn't push the issue of Term Limitation, ignorant public. The longer these people stay in office the more they bleed the tax payers, as if they needed those extra benefits, when common people can't even afford a fourth of what they get. To make matters worse, there are people that go to JAIL or resign in DISGRACE and they still live off the Amer. people, again, ignorant public.....I never thought I'd say this but the avg. Joe is just that, average! The amount of money overall to cover their retirements, kids tuition cost, investments, expenses, security, etc. etc. etc. etc. is an outrage.
Posted by: Chris | Apr 9, 2008 7:13:32 PM
I like and respect John McCain and I think (even though I am a life long registered Democrat) in the event that Hillary Clinton does not get the Democratic nomination, I will vote for McCain.
John McCain is an American hero - He is patriotic, he has served his country with honor, he continues to serve his country to the best of his abilities. John McCain is a True American.
Go get 'em John.
I also like Dwight Eisenhower on heck of a lot.
Posted by: Lou | Apr 9, 2008 7:24:23 PM
I'll be voting McCain if Hillary is not the dem nom. He is a true American.
Posted by: al | Apr 9, 2008 7:32:49 PM
Clinton's not giving up her seat. Obama's not giving up his seat. Why should McCain give up his seat? While I agree that term limits should be in effect for all federal officials (2 terms for Senate - 12 years, 4 terms for Representative - 8 years), the fact is, there aren't any. But I think the people of the states of Illinois, New York and Arizona are being under-represented during this campaign year. That is really the only down side to the whole thing.
Posted by: Fatesrider | Apr 9, 2008 7:34:31 PM
Check out Vietnam veterans against McCain. John McCain is a great actor, not american. Look for yourself. And try to come up with an answer to this question: Why did John McCain allow for normalization of relations with Vietnam without a full accounting of the dead and missing Americans in Vietnam, and Russia? Why did he fight to have his POW records permanetly classified? What is John trying to hide? Ask questions. Demand answers. "He who dares not reason is a slave."
Posted by: ha! | Apr 9, 2008 7:45:29 PM
He should resign! That would be a two-fer when he loses the presidential electon in November. Bye-bye McBush!
Obama 2008 -- Yes, HE CAN!!!
Posted by: Jackt51 -- Vietnam Vet and Proud Liberal | Apr 9, 2008 7:45:35 PM
If McCain wins than he most likely will LOSE his seat to a Democrat since the governor of Arizona is a Democrat.
Posted by: Maritza | Apr 9, 2008 7:45:40 PM
John McCain is a guy who knows nothing about the economy, trade, or much of anything else. John McCain needs to go home and go fishing at the lake. If John McCain gets into a debate with Senator Obama,or Senator Clinton, he will not only lose the debate, but Obama, or Clinton, will make McCain look stupid. McCain is going to keep his senate seat because he knows he has no chance of becoming President of the United States. When McCain told the phony story about a North Vietnamese guard drawing a cross in the sand to show his sympathy for McCain being a POW, I understood then, how McCain would do anything to try and gain sympathy from the American people. Having been engaged in ground combat in Vietnam, for over 5 years, and stationed with the South Vietnamese (ARVN) forces, I can tell you this, "the cross draw in the sand by the VC, or NVA, means death." John McCain needs to stop looking for sympathy and he also needs to quit playing the "Vietnam POW card."
Posted by: pointman | Apr 9, 2008 7:51:13 PM
I will NEVER vote for McCain. I want out of Iraq. If McCain wins there will be MANY more Americans that will DIE in Iraq for we will be there for many years.
Also, I am pro-choice and the supreme court is in the balance. The next president may choose up to 3 supreme court justices which this could tip the court into the EXTREME right. The supreme court will be changed for the WORSE.
A Democrat over any Republican any day whether it is Barack or Hillary. My 4 year old daughter's future (supreme court in the balance) is too important.
Any Democrat who is a TRUE Democrat and wants this Iraq War to end would NEVER EVER EVER vote for McCain.
Posted by: Maritza | Apr 9, 2008 7:51:36 PM
John McCain is a guy who knows nothing about the economy, trade, or much of anything else. John McCain needs to go home and go fishing at the lake. If John McCain gets into a debate with Senator Obama,or Senator Clinton, he will not only lose the debate, but Obama, or Clinton, will make McCain look stupid. McCain is going to keep his senate seat because he knows he has no chance of becoming President of the United States. When McCain told the phony story about a North Vietnamese guard drawing a cross in the sand to show his sympathy for McCain being a POW, I understood then, how McCain would do anything to try and gain sympathy from the American people. Having been engaged in ground combat in Vietnam, for over 5 years, and stationed with the South Vietnamese (ARVN) forces, I can tell you this, "the cross draw in the sand by the VC, or NVA, means death." John McCain needs to stop looking for sympathy and he also needs to quit playing the "Vietnam POW card."
Posted by: pointman | Apr 9, 2008 7:52:24 PM
watch this lifelong real DEM vote for mccain if obama is the nom. watch millions of us vote for mccain.
Posted by: al | Apr 9, 2008 7:56:27 PM
Democrats who vote for McCain are not true Democrats IMO. They don't care about whether or not we get out Iraq. They don't care about the supreme court. They don't care about social security.
Not true Democrats at all.
Posted by: Maritza | Apr 9, 2008 8:02:35 PM
Democrats who vote for McCain are not true Democrats IMO. They don't care about whether or not we get out Iraq. They don't care about the supreme court. They don't care about social security.
Not true Democrats at all.
Posted by: Maritza | Apr 9, 2008 8:02:43 PM
Watch us TRUE democrats vote for McCain, after Obama divides and destroys the dem party.
Posted by: al | Apr 9, 2008 8:29:20 PM
because he knows he will lose this fall and he will need a job after november.
Posted by: tom | Apr 9, 2008 8:48:44 PM
McCain is as big a fraud as the current BOBBLE HEAD sorry A** BUSH..He is another washed up Republican. Of course he wont give up power none of these bums ever will..They all think they are GODS GIFT to the world..All he knows is war-war and more war..Let's BOMB-BOMB-BOMB Iran..He is another nut case like the present one in the Whitehouse who gets his "jollies" seeing the caskets come home.
Posted by: Pat M | Apr 9, 2008 8:54:21 PM
I think people should notice how many hillary supporters are going to vote mccain if spineless obama gets the nomination. The number is bigger than the obamacans who would vote for mccain if hillary got the nomination.
I personally wont be voting for mccain (writing in hillary), but this is how the democrats will dig their own graves come november, letting Barack "Messiah" Obama get the nom.
Posted by: michelle | Apr 9, 2008 8:58:39 PM
McCain will not resign because if he does congress might be able to open up his prisoner of war records.
Posted by: riddelup | Apr 9, 2008 9:18:32 PM
Well, Al, we won't miss you... you're probably a republican anyway! And we don't need your vote -- plenty of intelligent people to take your place!
Obama 2008 -- Yes, WE CAN!!!
Posted by: Jackt51 -- Vietnam Vet and Proud Liberal | Apr 9, 2008 9:18:36 PM
mccain is just warmonger like bush and he is also for thr rich tax cuts. so i dont see unless you are rich how you can vote for him.
Posted by: tom | Apr 9, 2008 9:31:28 PM
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