McCain looks for last-minute magic in Iowa

by James Oliphant

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa--In a last-minute bid to score an upset in Iowa, Sen. John McCain came here today to make his case to a large, sympathetic crowd at the Elks Lodge.

On a day where the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto brought the threat of global terrorism to the forefront, McCain said his national security credentials elevate him above Iowa rivals Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney.

In introductory remarks, Dave Roederer, McCain's Iowa chairman, said "the senator's seen it, done it, and learned from it."

McCain called Bhutto's death "a great tragedy. When something like this happens, you try to figure out who are the winners and the losers. It seems to me that the winners are radical Islamic extremists."

He added that because of his lengthy tenure, "I know Benazir Bhutto. I know [General Pervez] Musharraf."

In an interview with reporters after the event, McCain said, "I would hate for this tragedy to affect anyone's campaign." But he was quick to add that "my theme throughout this campaign has been that I'm the one with the experience, the knowledge, and the judgment. Perhaps it may serve to enhance those credentials."

McCain is looking to benefit from strong poll numbers in New Hampshire and the endorsement here of the state's most influential newspaper, the Des Moines Register. But in remarks after the event, he rejected the idea that he hadn't paid enough attention to Iowa. He said he would leave to the media to decide whether he meets expectations here.

The Arizona Republican also addressed the war in Iraq. "We are succeeding in Iraq. The casualties are down. Things are better." McCain noted that he was the only one of the candidates in either party to support the surge of troops into the country.

He claimed the mantle of Ronald Reagan, saying he would rein in spending in Congress using a pen to veto legislation that Reagan himself gave him. He inveighed against earmarks, noting how New York, Sen. Hillary Clinton's home state, had received an earmark to building a Woodstock museum. "Both a pharmaceutical and cultural experience," he quipped.

On immigration, he said the congressional debate over the issue earlier this year convinced him that the border needed to be secure before any guest worker program was put in place. But he said, "We still need a temprorary worker program that works. We still need to do something about the 12 million [illegal aliens] here."

His remarks on global warming drew a large ovation when he said, "Suppose we are wrong, then all we've done is create a better world for our children. But suppose we are right and do nothing."

Taking questions from the public after his speech, the 71-year-old McCain was asked about his health should he attain the presidency. "I feel great," he said. "I feel just fine."