Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Currently: 70° — Complete forecast

Topic:

John McCain

John McCain warms up the crowd of disabled veterans Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, at Bally's. The veterans also heard from Sen. Barack Obama, by videotape.

Photo by Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

John McCain warms up the crowd of disabled veterans Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, at Bally's. The veterans also heard from Sen. Barack Obama, by videotape.

Biographical information | Issues | Latest campaign news


U.S. Sen John McCain of Arizona has a maverick style that got him in trouble a year ago with the Republican leadership and he nearly fell into the obscurity of second-tier candidates for president behind fellow Republicans Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney. But McCain's "Straight Talk Express" campaign seemed to be the GOP answer to the public clamor for change.

After wrapping up the GOP nomination fairly early, McCain, ever the maverick, picked a somewhat political unknown for his vice presidential running mate — Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin. Palin became an immediate GOP rock star, then faltered in an interview with CBS anchor Katy Couric that left some wondering if she was up for the job. Palin rebounded during the vice presidential debate with Democrat Joe Biden.

NEVADA CAUCUS — Although McCain is a senator from neighboring Arizona, his support of establishing the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste in Nevada and his support of a national ban on college sports betting didn't win him much support among Nevada Republicans.

During the Jan. 19 Nevada caucus, McCain finished in third place behind Mitt Romney and Ron Paul, with only 13 percent of the votes. (See stories, videos and blogs.)

WINNING THE WEST — After the grueling primary battle, a team of Sun journalists took a "Winning the West" road trip in August through the Southwest on the way to the Democratic and Republican national conventions. (See stories, videos, photos and blogs.)

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION — Packaging McCain the maverick with Palin the everymom reformer, Republicans hit the campaign trail claiming the theme of change as their own.

As the campaign entered into its final weeks, McCain's theme continues to be that while Obama talks about change, only McCain and Palin have the experience needed to conduct real reform and change in Washington, D.C.

Archive highlights

John McCain - bio information

Sun, Sep 28, 2008

Biographical and background information on John McCain.

John McCain on the issues

Mon, Oct 6, 2008

The following are John McCain's positions on selected issues.

All stories

McCain turns up energy at end

Tue, Nov 4, 2008

The Republican presidential ticket on Monday made its last stops in Nevada before Election Day, underscoring the importance of the state to the party’s hopes of retaining the White House.

Palin energizes Elko crowd on final campaign stop

Tue, Nov 4, 2008

"God bless America. God bless Nevada." With those words Monday night, the whirlwind two-month journey that sent a nearly unknown figure from the governor's mansion of Alaska to the set ...

McCain, Palin, Michelle Obama coming through again Monday

Sun, Nov 2, 2008

With Tuesday's election approaching quickly, more late-inning presidential campaigning is going on in Las Vegas and other Nevada cities today and Monday.

Taking it personally

Sat, Nov 1, 2008

After the bickering among stylists over John McCain and Barack Obama became so heated at a beauty salon, the shop was declared a politics-free zone.

Ensign’s criticism of Obama expected, but Palin?

Sat, Nov 1, 2008

Nevada Sen. John Ensign has taken a slap at his party’s presidential ticket, saying Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin does not have enough experience to be president.

Palin clan makes kindly pitch

Fri, Oct 31, 2008

Halfway through a door-to-door canvass in a quiet Henderson neighborhood Thursday, Sarah Palin’s mother got distracted.

2 Palin crowds, 2 differing sign-of-the-times moments

Sat, Oct 25, 2008

The mood at September’s rally for Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin was electric, near fervent. Palin’s rally in Reno this week, just over a month since her first Northern ...

GOP picks stylin' over dialin'

Thu, Oct 23, 2008

The Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 on clothes and accessories for vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family. What would that get you in Las Vegas?

A few words from the trail

Thu, Oct 23, 2008

Both vice presidential candidates gave speeches in Henderson in recent days. Two word clouds graphically represent the most commonly used words in their remarks.

Temple becomes tiny battleground

Wed, Oct 22, 2008

For most people, presidential campaigns are waged from afar. Voters watch televised debates, read newspapers, surf the net.

Why Palin softened her rhetoric

Wed, Oct 22, 2008

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin unveiled a new stump speech before a crowd of thousands at the Henderson Pavilion, appealing directly to women and softening her overall tone.

Fred Thompson makes cameo at local McCain office

Tue, Oct 21, 2008

Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson stopped by the McCain-Palin Henderson headquarters to show thanks and give a pep talk to volunteers and supporters Tuesday afternoon.

Palin makes appeal to women voters

Tue, Oct 21, 2008

By the time Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin strode onto the stage at the Henderson Pavilion today, her crunch-time strategy for Nevada was obvious.

Palin criticizes Obama for wanting to redistribute wealth

Tue, Oct 21, 2008

RENO — Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin said Obama would “redistribute wealth” and hit the Democratic ticket as unprepared for an international crisis.

Campaign releases details on Palin's visit to Henderson

Mon, Oct 20, 2008

Republican presidential nominee John McCain's campaign has released additional information about Gov. Sarah Palin's visit to Henderson on Tuesday.

Videos

Presidential Candidates on Health Care
Presidential Candidates on Health Care
With the latest scandal or character attack dominating most of today's political headlines, many voters ...
John McCain speaks in Vegas
John McCain speaks in Vegas
Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, speaks to members of the Disabled American ...
Reality Check: John McCain's
Reality Check: John McCain's "Love" campaign ad
Jon takes a look at John McCain's most recent campaign ad titled "Love."
Calming the Waters, seg. 2
Calming the Waters, seg. 2
Did Republican presidential nominee John McCain win over voters with the help of his vice ...