Senator John McCain returned to New Hampshire yesterday to thank his supporters. McCain has always liked talking in town halls and for this visit, he chose the one in Exeter... the town that was the focus of our series, Primary Place.
The producer of that series, New Hampshire Public Radio’s Jon Greenberg, was there and files this report.
John McCain speaks at Exeter Town Hall. (Cheryl Senter, NHPR)
The Exeter town hall has been a touchstone for John McCain. He came here early in the primary and again, on the night before people went to the polls, he stood on these steps for a brief but spirited rally that led to his first and much needed victory. This time, he got a taste of what the general election will be like. Scores of Democrats were waiting for him outside and their theme was simple.
CHANT BUSH MCCAIN, MORE OF THE SAME. 2X
A larger than life mannequin in cowboy boots sitting astride an H bomb was towed around in front of the town hall – complete with soundtrack from the movie Dr. Strangelove
SFX inside
Inside, it was packed and it was hard to find someone who had not voted for McCain. Betty Labranche, who recently moved away but has a real estate company in Exeter, said she was very pleased to see McCain here; even more so when she remembers how his campaign imploded last spring.
"We met him during the summer and it was just when he was starting up again and it was Wow, can he ever really do it. And sure enough, he did."
CUT I give you John S. McCain
With a brief introduction from Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman, McCain took the stage. Almost immediately he reached out to anyone who had supported his Republican rivals. He said they had made him a better candidate and he had words of praise for them, especially, Mitt Romney.
"I believe that Gov. Romney has earned a place in our Republican Party and I think he’s part of the future of our party and I want to thank the people who supported him."
There’s been some talk that Romney might be offered the vice presidential slot, but McCain said nothing about that. On issues, McCain made a point to begin not with national security, the topic with which he’s most identified, but with the economy.
"We know about the economy up in the northern part of the state in Berlin where people have lost manufacturing. We know how difficult some of the average American families today are struggling. And they need our help. And obviously I am a small government conservative but I think there are many things we can do to help this economic situation."
He reiterated many of the points he made before he became the defacto nominee. He promised to make the Bush tax cuts permanent, although he originally voted against them. He spent a fair bit of time on the need to control global warming and he rejected the idea that energy efficiency would come at the expense of the economy. He said it was critical to make health care more affordable and he called the confrontation with Islamic extremism the transcendent struggle of our time.
McCain’s last words to the crowd were a reminder of his own struggle that lies ahead.
John McCain listens to a question at Exeter Town Hall. (Cheryl Senter, NHPR)
"The state of New Hampshire will be a battleground state. I intend to be back and back and back again because not only do I love it here but I need to win NH in order to win the presidency. I need your vote, your support, God bless America."
Those were words that rang true for Rick Trout, a supporter who was standing outside. In the primary, Trout voted for Rudy Giuliani. Now, he’s four square behind McCain. But Trout says the senator may have to count on other states to get him to the Oval office.
"I think he’ll do well in the nation as a whole but in New Hampshire and New England generally, it will be a rough fight."
McCain surprised many people when his signature town hall meetings resurrected his flagging campaign for the Republican nomination. But it will take more than spirited discussions in small towns to deliver a repeat performance in the general election here.
For NHPR News, I’m Jon Greenberg.
