McCain Finally Agrees To Secret Service Protection
MEMPHIS - Sen. John McCain, who has famously opposed the use of Secret Service as he campaigns for president, is bowing to realities of modern presidential politics.
McCain intends to meet with Secret Service officials in the next several days in preparation for accepting security protection for the final several months of his White House bid.
McCain plans to meet with the Secret Service next week, he said in an interview for broadcast Sunday on Fox News.
“I think that it’s important as we get more and more visibility, that we recognize the inevitable,” McCain said. “And so we will be talking with them early to arrange for, very soon, some Secret Service protection.”
McCain made the disclosure after the head of the Secret Service, Mark Sullivan, took the unusual step of discussing McCain’s lack of government security at an open meeting Thursday with members of the House Appropriations Committee.
McCain aides said they did not know precisely when McCain would agree to accept the protection.
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, wife Cindy McCain said she has been worried about McCain’s safety.
“That’s my job is to worry and I’m good at it,” she said. “I understand his rationale though. He never wants to lose that personal contact that he has and his ability to get with the voter, get in close and very personal with them.”
“Statutorily, he is not required to take protection,” Sullivan said when asked about McCain’s security during a hearing on the agency’s budget. “As far as an actual request, we have not gotten one. We have no involvement at this point.”
McCain has said previously he does not want Secret Service protection, fearing it would interfere with his brand of intimate campaigning with voters. McCain also has said he’ll try to last as long as he can without it.
“I’ve never done it. After we won New Hampshire in 2000, they really tried to get us, but we said no,” McCain said last November while campaigning in Concord, N.H. “It’s an invasion of your ability to have contact with voters.”
(Agencies)
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April 5th, 2008 at 1:46 amWhat the fuck was this guy thinking this whole time?
April 5th, 2008 at 2:37 amWell, after the (AP) painted a fucking TARGET on his back and chest by reporting it, I guess there was no other option.
I feel better, anyway.
He’s pretty much been out of the limelight of late while the two neoCommies duke it out, but once someone walks away from that one as the bloody winner McCain will be back in the camera lense for the general election doings … and THAT’s when whatever fucking loone decides, for whatever reason besides their 15 mins. of fame, would come crawling out from under a rock and aim for him.
April 5th, 2008 at 6:19 amYeah thats a good move on his part, finally. McCain likes to get right into the crowd with people and knew secret service wouldnt let him. i feel better knowing now that he is protected
April 5th, 2008 at 7:10 amThank God. We all know that fast movers all have a certain degree of high confidence (which is good), but there’s no need for McCain to take a needless risk like this. We all know there’s a bunch of kooks that would like to knock off a Republican President/Candidate. McCain, we don’t mind if you are provided with tax-funded protection; this ISN’T an earmark!
April 5th, 2008 at 9:25 am