McCain Asks Supporters For Another Comeback

Republican presidential nominee John McCain speaks at a rally in Manchester. (Kelli True, NHPR)

John McCain can get sentimental when he talks about New Hampshire. And today was no exception.

"I love you. I love New Hamsphire. I know I can count on you again to come from behind, to again come from behind and take a victory and bring it all the way to Washington DC. And my friends I’m asking you to come out one more time. Get out the vote, and we’ll win, and will have a great election night."

McCain’s prepared remarks focused on a subject prominent in every New Hampshire election -- taxes and spending.

"Barack Obama wants to quote spread the wealth around."

McCain repeated this charge a half dozen times in his 15 minute speech. He also accused Obama of advocating higher taxes as a matter of principle, and topped the criticism off with by claiming the democrat was also bent on tamping down people’s earnings.

"Apparently as my opponent sees it there is a strict limit to your earnings and wealth and it’s for politicians to decide. The proper amount of wealth is not what you can earn, but what government will let you keep."

McCain continued by casting Obama as someone who views government as an academic, and who’s proposed a trillion dollars worth of new government programs, without telling voters how he’ll fund them. Obama has said his new spending will be offset by budget cuts. But McCain told the crowd he’s the only candidate voters can trust to slash government bloat.

"I take a cleaver, and I’ll take and meat axe and a scalpel, and we’ll stop this out of control spending."

Most in the crowd, which the campaign pegged at 3000, but which seemed smaller, welcomed McCain’s argument with lusty abandon.

"John McCain, John, McCain, John McCain"

Afterwards, many loyalists said McCain has energized them for the campaign’s final stretch.

"I believe it. I trust him and it gets us excited for him to be in office."

Nicole Neiland of New Ipswich attended the rally with her daughter, father, and grandmother. She said McCain’s latest line of attack was one she’s felt in her bones for months.

"From the moment barack Obama started his campaign I believed he was going towards socialism."

But others, were less sure the Obama is a socialist message would appeal much beyond the GOP base. Jim McConanha is state chairman of Democrats for McCain.

"I don’t know whether everyone shares the idea, but he’s boiled it down to some essentials and hit them hard to draw a contrast."

Perhaps that will be enough in a state that’s twice propelled McCain to primary wins, but the polls suggest he has an uphill climb. As he waited to board shuttle bus that ferried attendees back to their cars, longtime supporter Karl Zahn of Milford said he has no doubt that McCain’s the man to lead the country. But he believes tactical gambles – such as tapping Sarah Palin as his running mate, and attacking Obama’s relationship with 1960s radical William Ayers -- have hurt McCain’s chances. Zahn says the man who promotes himself as a Maverick, now seems penned in.

"I’m haven’t written him off, but he just looks to me like a guy that’s been corralled in by his handlers, kind of like Jack Nicholson in the last scene from Cuckoo’s Nest, you know -- one too many electric shocks. So, I’m disappointed in his campaign."

This trip could be the last chance local voters get to see John McCain prior to the election. While the Arizona Senator’s campaign says he remains committed to competing in the granite state, ABC news has reported that McCain’s camp has scaled back on its purchases of local television advertising time.