John McCain spoke at the CPAC conference and began the difficult process of mending fences with the conservative wing of the GOP:
(CNN) — Sen. John McCain Thursday told a conservative-rich audience that he has what it takes to unite the Republican party.
“I know I have a responsibility, if I am, as I hope to be, the Republican nominee for president, to unite the party and prepare for the great contest in November,” McCain told the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Critics say he’s too liberal to carry his party’s nomination. Conservatives point to him breaking with the party on immigration, opposing the Bush tax cuts and co-sponsoring legislation on campaign finance reform.
The meeting is the nation’s largest annual gathering of conservative activists, students and policymakers, according to CPAC.
The speech came just hours after McCain’s chief rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, announced he was suspending his campaign.
McCain congratulated Romney for an “energetic and dedicated campaign” and also praised former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee for his Super Tuesday wins.
In the end, thought there will be griping and complaining, I think that most conservatives will stick with the GOP in November. All kidding aside, I just can’t see conservative Republicans voting for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama or even sitting out an election that could put another Clinton in the White House. That’s not to say that McCain doesn’t have work to do here, he does and one of the most important things that he will do is select his running mate. In the recent past, Republican nominees haven’t done that great a job of that (with the exception of Bob Dole, who picked a running mate who should have been at the top of the ticket) and it’s even more important in McCain’s case considering that he would, if he wins, be the oldest person ever to take the Oath of Office.
February 7th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Conservatives may stick with the Republican party, but, they won’t necessarily vote for McCain. There are other candidates running for the Senate and House. They just won’t vote for him.