McCain raises $$$ in College Station and San Antonio, Texas
Senator McCain was in Texas to raise some more cash, this time appearing with his national co-chairman, former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm. According to the Bryan-College Station (Tex.) Eagle:
Republican presidential candidate John McCain made a pit stop Thursday in College Station to tout his experience as a “Western senator” and emphasize his work on immigration and national security issues.
Rushing off a small jet at Easterwood Airport, McCain spoke briefly with a handful of local reporters before heading to a fund-raiser at Miramont Country Club in Bryan. The fund-raiser was hosted by A&M System Regent Phil Adams, state Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, and College Station businessman Don Adam.
“I’m happy to be back,” McCain said, mentioning that he was in College Station about six months ago to speak at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. He paused for a moment to razz his traveling companion, former Sen. Phil Gramm, who he jokingly said was known for being one of the worst professors in Aggieland.
Gramm is the national co-chair of McCain’s campaign, as well as the husband of A&M System Regent Wendy Gramm and a former A&M economics professor.
Campaign officials announced shortly before noon that McCain would be available Thursday evening to discuss his concerns about Democratic Sens. Harry Reid and Hillary Clinton. A press release e-mailed to Bryan-College Station media outlets indicated McCain wanted to address Reid’s recent remarks about “poor military leadership and Clinton’s earmarks in the Defense Appropriations bill.”
McCain, however, declined to make any formal speech after getting off the plane. He instead said he was en route to a fund-raiser and running late. He then took a few quick questions before dashing to a waiting vehicle.
Campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said the limited availability was due to storms that delayed the senator’s flight from San Antonio to College Station by about 30 minutes.
During the brief press conference, the Arizona senator said he hopes he has distinguished himself from the broad field of Republican presidential candidates through his work on immigration reform and national security.
McCain is a co-sponsor of a bipartisan immigration overhaul struggling for support in Congress but backed by President Bush and is considered a top-tier candidate for the Republican nomination for the 2008 presidential race.
Standing less than a mile from the Bush Library, McCain said he didn’t intend to seek an endorsement from the current president or his father.
“No, I wouldn’t want to do that,” McCain said, explaining that he had spoken with the two about running, but had not asked either for an endorsement. “Both are at the level that, frankly, it would be inappropriate.”
Earlier in the day, McCain attended a fund-raiser at the home of San Antonio attorney and longtime Republican donor John Steen.
Read the entire article here.
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