LOS ANGELES -- Arizona Senator John McCain has officially declared his candidacy for president on the Late Show with David Letterman. The former Vietnam prisoner of war ran unsuccessfully in 2000 for the GOP nomination, losing to George W. Bush in a bitter primary campaign.
"I am announcing that I will be a candidate for president of the United States," McCain told Letterman to loud applause from the live show audience. The four-term senator then said he would give a further-formalizing speech in April.
McCain has long been expected to contend for the 2008 Republican nomination. He formed an exploratory commission, the first formal step of any potential candidate, just after the midterm elections in 2006. His reputation as a political maverick and his failed 2000 campaign have garnered him nation-wide name recognition. McCain is considered the favorite to win the nomination, though former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani currently leads McCain in the polls.
McCain has consistently defended President Bush's plan to send an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq, a move that has not been popular with voters nor members of Congress.
McCain's previous lack of regard for toeing the party line through much of the Bush Administration's two terms has earned him respect from many non-Republicans, so much so that 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry informally asked McCain to be his running mate. McCain declined.
KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO is a favorite radio station in Southern California trusted for Los Angeles / Orange County / Ventura County / Riverside County / San Bernardino County news, Los Angeles / Orange County radio shows, Los Angeles / Orange County news talk, Los Angeles / Orange County Extended Traffic on the 5s, Los Angeles / Orange County sports, Los Angeles / Orange County weather, Marketwatch stocks, Los Angeles / Orange County business news, Los Angeles / Orange County featured reports. Listen live online and on demand with free podcast downloads of Money 101 with Bob McCormick, The KNX Business Hour with Frank Mottek, Food News with Melinda Lee, Computer News with Jeff Levy, Eye On Your Career with Lois Frankel, John Clayton's Travel with a Difference. Listen online to exclusive music and available in HD Radio. See video webisodes of Money 101 Online with Bob McCormick, Cookin' Up a New Kitchen with Melinda Lee and special KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO reports. Think responsibly. Know means know. www.knx1070.com.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
