McCain rallies military supporters

JASON SPENCER, Staff Writer

As the sun set Friday on the veterans' memorial at Duncan Park, U.S. Sen. John McCain got a little choked up as he recounted a poem and spoke about soldiers, killed in battle, who were "known only to God."

McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, maintained his trademark wittiness, though, taking the mic and letting everyone know with a grin that, "It doesn't take a lot of talent to get shot down."

The rally for veterans and troops currently serving overseas was put together by the Spartanburg County Republican Party, featured a slew of politicians seeking office in 2006 -- or in McCain's case, perhaps beyond -- but was billed as "not a political event."

McCain's potential presidential aspirations are no secret. But his short speech Friday evening was about what it means to serve your country -- and what it takes. He was introduced by state Adjutant Gen. Stan Spears, who oversees the S.C. National Guard.

"This state has a tradition of patriotism and sacrifice unmatched by any state in the United States," McCain, R-Ariz., told the small crowd.

"It's evidenced by the men and women in uniform here today, and by the men and women whose names are on this wall."

McCain spoke on the War on Terror, calling it "a conflict against people who have taken an honorable religion and perverted it," and promised that, "We will never surrender. They will."

He has said on more than one occasion that he would like to expand the U.S. military and send more troops overseas.

More than 9,100 men and women are in the S.C. Army National Guard, and about 1,250 in the S.C. Air National Guard. Only a few hundred are active overseas now, compared to about 4,000 at the height of the war.

Spears, who is seeking re-election, said this state was one of the top five in sending guardsmen and women to Iraq and Afghanistan, and that another 2,000 would be deployed during the next couple of months.

"I'd like to see a bigger Army and a bigger Marine Corps so we can relieve the strain on these guardsmen," McCain said after the event in the van carrying him to Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport.

"Some of the people that Gen. Spears talked about are going back for their third deployment. It's very hard. But the incredible thing about it is that they perform magnificently, and their morale is superb. It's amazing, but not too surprising, given the patriotism that exists in this state."

Spears, along with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and state Attorney General Henry McMaster -- who also attended Friday's event -- are among McCain's high-profile supporters in the Palmetto State.

He's visited more than a few times under the guise of stumping for Republicans in this year's mid-term elections, but also with the knowledge that losing South Carolina might have cost him the Republican nomination for president in 2000.

Political junkies expect potential presidential candidates to make their decisions, and announcements, by January. McCain was asked several times about his aspirations Friday night. He didn't flinch, but he didn't commit one way or the other, either.

"It would confuse things if we made a premature decision whether to run or not," McCain said. "Because right now, the House and Senate, as we all know, are in play. So, the important thing is to try and keep our majority. The president can govern more effectively -- a lot more effectively -- if we keep both houses of Congress. And I think we can."

This past week, McCain spent time with candidates in Alabama, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. He flew out of Spartanburg for Washington, D.C., on Friday, but plans to visit Georgia, Michigan, California, Maine and Arizona next week.

It seems like a lot of work for someone who hasn't decided if he's running for president.

"John McCain is the perfect man to be president," McMaster said. "He is uniquely qualified and experienced to be our next president. With the terrorism worldwide, and the enormous potential for future conflict, his insight would be invaluable as the next president."

In his 2000 bid, McCain did well in the Lowcountry, fair in the Midlands, but poorly in the Upstate. So, a second go at the job likely would lend itself to spending more time in the Greenville-Spartanburg area.

"If you made that a bet, you probably wouldn't lose your mortgage," said John Weaver, a senior strategist for McCain's Straight Talk America political action committee.

This area, too, is perhaps the most conservative in the state. When asked whether he felt he would have to work harder to connect with people or win votes, McCain said he didn't know.

"Because I haven't decided whether to run or not, it's hard for me to talk about a specific strategy," he said. "But this is a diverse state. And so, that enriches the state. The only thing that runs through the state that I've seen in the years that I've come here is the patriotism that I referred to earlier. There is a long history of South Carolinians serving the cause of this nation."

McCain had lunch Friday with incumbent agriculture commissioner candidate Hugh Weathers in Greenville and attended a private reception at state Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith's house in Spartanburg before getting to the veterans rally.

He was often stopped for an autograph, or a photo, or a handshake, or sometimes just a hello.

"He's top-notch," said 63-year-old Grady Thompson of Roebuck, a Marine veteran.

"He served in Vietnam the same time I did. I got to come home, and he had to stay another 6½ years."

McCain got a surprise visit as the rally concluded from Bob Musgrove, a Clemson resident who attended the U.S. Naval Academy with him. The two also went to flight school together, and Musgrove once lived across the street from McCain in Orange Park, Fla.

"He's gotten a little more white hair, and put on a little weight," Musgrove said with a chuckle.

"I knew John when he was young and a hell-raiser. He's settled down. He's matured. But the leadership has always been there."

Jason Spencer can be reached at 562-7214, or jason.spencer@shj.com.