Transcript: John McCain On Building Conservative Support Before Super Tuesday
© National Journal Group Inc.
Friday, Feb. 1, 2008
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National Journal's Linda Douglass sat down with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for "National Journal On Air." This is a transcript of their conversation.
Audio of the full show is also available.
Q: I want to welcome Senator John McCain, who is out campaigning in California and has just received the endorsement of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Welcome, Senator McCain.
McCain: Thank you, Linda. Thanks for having me on.Q: Well, so, congratulations on the Schwarzenegger endorsement, certainly one that any Republican would covet. But let me ask you a question about that. You know, Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of those centrist Republicans -- he calls himself a "post-partisan" Republican -- and there's always a theory that support from somebody like him might reinforce the notion that you are essentially a moderate candidate, a word that doesn't go down well with conservatives. What about that?
McCain: Well, I think you can counterbalance that with the endorsement and support of conservatives like Jack Kemp and Phil Gramm and the governor of Texas, Rick Perry, who just endorsed, and we have a large number of so-called conservative Republicans who have endorsed as well, and there will be more in the coming days. So I think what you need to do is get support from all elements of the party if you are going to unite it and have a chance in November against the Democrats.Q: Well, this is an interesting and emerging theme that's surrounds your candidacy, and that really is, the theme of what the Republican Party is these days. You know the California field poll this week showed that you have very strong support from Republicans who call themselves moderate or even liberal, although I don't know who those are. Why do you think that is?
McCain: Well, I think we showed in Florida, in an all-Republican primary, that we got a significant portion of all parts of the party -- whether they be social or economic or national security conservatives -- enough to win with a substantial margin. I think we showed that in New Hampshire and in Iowa too. I think that most very conservative Republicans' major concern is the threat of radical Islamic extremism, and I think I can unite the party. Look, these are tough primaries and, you know, this isn't beanbag, but traditionally -- and I hope we will in the future -- I hope right after Tuesday, unite the party, get all elements together, recognize who the adversaries are and work together, because we all know that's the only way we can win a general election.Q: You got into it again in a debate this week with Mitt Romney about the issue of conservatism, and his claim to be the conservatives' candidate really seems to irritate the rest of you Republican candidates -- present and former candidates. Why is that?
McCain: Oh, I think it's probably because we know that Governor Romney has changed his positions on all the major issues, and you know I don't think it's, quote, irritating, but we all feel we are good conservatives as well, and I think we have our credentials. But you know, when you invest all your heart and soul in campaigns you get emotional, and the important part is to make sure that you maintain the respect of everybody, and I hope I've been able to do that.Q: But do you think he is a real conservative?
McCain: Oh, I think he has changed positions on the issues, but I'll take his word for it that he is a, quote, conservative.Q: So, you heard former President Clinton say the other day that you and Hillary Clinton really like each other, that you are really friends and that if you ran against each other, it would be so nice it would be boring. Are you close friends with Hillary Clinton?
McCain: Senator Clinton and I have a friendly relationship and a respectful one, but I can guarantee you that a campaign between the two of us or a campaign between me and Senator Obama will be anything but boring. It will be very, very exciting and interesting because we have clear differences. We have philosophical differences -- she is a liberal Democrat and I'm a conservative Republican -- so I respectfully disagree with former President Clinton when he says it would be boring. I think it would be very exciting.Q: Back to the issue of conservatives, because this is the final wall that you have to blast through to get the nomination, one thinks. You know, the talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Hugh Hewitt are all saying that you're not conservative enough for them. Limbaugh is saying that the base has fractured. Do you think that the talk show hosts are going to have the same kind of power in this campaign that they've had in the past?
McCain: Well, I think they are very powerful and influential with elements of the party, and they have my respect. I'll just try to show them that I can unite the party. I'll run on my record, and I think that so far, in South Carolina, New Hampshire and in Florida, and I hope on Tuesday to show them that I will get the majority of the Republican vote and unite the party and move on. I think I've been proving that in this campaign, and I'll continue to try to prove it to everybody.Q: Well, thank you so much, Senator John McCain, heading into Super Tuesday. And take care out there on the trail.
McCain: Thanks again, bye.