Projo Politics Blog

Journal photo / Mary Murphy
GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain speaks to a crowd of about 1,000 supporters at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick today. Among them were Governor Carcieri, at left.

WARWICK -- U.S. Sen. John McCain rallied a crowd of Republican Party faithful here today with a strong defense of the military surge in Iraq, a pledge to combat global warming, and a hope for economic recovery.

McCain also told the crowd that, though he respected his opponent, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, "I expect to be the Republican party nominee."

The senator spent the early part of the day campaigning in Vermont -- another fairly liberal Democratic state -- and the afternoon here in Rhode Island, which hasn't voted for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan in 1984.

The audience of more than 1,000 at the Crowne Plaza hotel was sprinkled with veterans and, as veteran McCain always does, he recognized them for their contributions and said that he would "fix veterans' health care" if he became president.

"I will carry the state of Rhode Island," he said emphatically. "I do believe I am on the path to getting the nomination of my party."

In an interview outside the rally, McCain was asked how he felt about former U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee's announcement this morning that he will be endorsing Democrat Barack Obama.

Rhode Islander Chafee, who has since left the GOP, said he chose Obama because he had not supported the war on Iraq, as had McCain and other top Democratic contender, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton.

McCain replied, "I have great respect and affection for Senator Chafee and I respect whatever decision he makes."

-- Journal staff writer Scott MacKay, with reports from Journal political columnist M. Charles Bakst

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