CNN

Bo:

Great comment. It seems like a lot of criticism of Mccain is because, god forbid, he actually voted what he believed instead of obeying the dictates of the party line. It's sad to see so many people demand ideological conformity at the expense of reason.

Mitts nevada win, check the funny papers, dahling

I still want to know where the coverage is for Mitt's Nevada win?

In case you missed it, Ron Paul came in 2nd in Nevada.

Go Mitt Romney!

.. in case you missed it or if Mitt fans are interested in the facts... please consider this:

Northeastern University economist Andrew Sum, who has researched Romney's record, said the state lagged the U.S. average during that period in job creation, economic growth and wage increases.

"As a strict labor market economist looking at the record, Massachusetts did very poorly during the Romney years, he said. "On every measure you've got, the state was a substantial under-performer."

While Romney and the state legislature cut $1.6 billion from the 2004 budget, analysts noted he also generated more than $500 million by raising fees and by closing corporate tax loopholes - actions considered tax rises by some businesses.

"There's never been under his watch an economic turnaround to speak of," Michael Widmer, president of the independent Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, told Reuters.

"We added a few jobs over the last three years of his tenure but very few. He also raised corporate taxes and fees."

Vote early and vote often but please, please be an informed voter!!!

"I believe my party has gone astray. I think the Democratic Party is a fine party, and I have no problems with it, in their views and their philosophy." - John McCain

I have been a Republican since 1980, but many of the Republicans posting here make me embarrassed to admit it. John McCain has more courage and honor that all the other Rep. and Dem. candidates combined. I wonder how Romney, Huckabee, Guiliani, and the others would have fared in the Hanoi Hilton?

Why do so many of you trash a guy that fought for his country and underwent a POW experience that I doubt any of you could even comprehend? And if you look at his overall record, as opposed to just McCain-Feingold and a few other issues, he is more conservative than many in Washington. If you disagree with McCain's ideas, fine, don't vote for him. But can't you be respectful to a great patriot and criticize him in civil way?
The Republican Party party "base" has become close minded and just plain ignorant. What a sad and pathetic situation. And to think the Republican Party was once the party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Dwight Eisenhower.

rose,

I also served in Iraq like your grandson, but you dont understand there is no 'finishing the job'... there is no end in sight over there. we are only standing in the way of a civil war than was supposed to happen a while ago. we need to downsize in iraq and send most of the ground forces home. let the iraqis fight their own battles and defend their own country.

- mc cain wants to continue the bush strategy, unfortunately he is dead wrong.

If given the choice between hillary and John mccain, my vote goes to mccain not only for his service to our country, but because unlike the Clintons with their scandal upon scandal upon scandal, john has kept himself scandal-free . That speaks of an honest man.

I have been saying this all along. McCain is an OK guy, a bit on the side of the hypocrites, but nice nonetheless; however, the guys is simply too old, we need new blood at the White House. He's been in congress for over 25 years, and he HAS CHANGED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. He knows about foreign relations? really? what has he done in that realm? The surge was not his idea, it was the military's idea, and it was actually an idea that had been put on the table since the beginning. He's more of a democrat and a republican, so what does he really have to offer the American people, even with his credentials?

I respect him as a human being; however, those who call him a hero, are simply wrong. Hero is the guy who took care of him, those who saved him. McCain was a good soldier that served his country, like many thousands of other soldiers. But he got caught and captured. That doesn't qualify him to be president. I want someone with true business experience, who is not looking forward to the paycheck, but who is truly qualified to run the country as he would a successful company. So far, I don't see any other candidate better than Romney, maybe Bloomberg if he decides to run, but other than that, Romney is my choice.

McCain is a gloating toad. I sure hope he enjoyed that severe beating we gave him here in nv. Independents can't save him any longer and any true conservative knows he cant be trusted.. He's says he intends to secure the border then afterwards provide amnesty to all illegals already here. I guess ted kennedy says jump, and McCain says "how high"?

Romney for responsible immigration and economics..

i think it's sad how, apparently, the repub's "party's base" is just a bunch of religious nuts. i like john mccain becasue he doesn't pander to ANYONE – he does what is right and what he thinks is best for EVERYONE not just his party's "base" and not just to get votes.

do think that it was just a coincidence that huck declared that we re-write our constitutional according to the "word of god" two days before the sc primary? wow...if that's all it takes to get you people's votes, then i should run for president! i can say anything you want to hear anytime of the day. you people can't handle a straight talker – you'd rather someone lie to you and tell you what you want to hear becasue you're so narrow-minded and resistant to anything outside of your little box.

it's people like you that cause politicians to have to lie and pander to us. you're so thick and all you care about is yourselves – not what's best for everyone or the country.

mcccain's a conservative in many aspects; just because he isn't standing on a soap box pandering to the religious rights does not make him any less of a republican, just a decent, sensible one. i'm an independent and i consider myself a social liberal (live and let live) but a fiscal conservative and mccain to me is the best of both worlds. he still has morals but is also sensible and realistic.

for all of you who say that he's not a real republican, where are you getting this from? he IS the defintion of a conservative – which means a hands-off government. your other candidates are the ones who are obseesed with controlling people's personal lives and want to pass constitutional amendments on everything under the sun. since when was immigration policy determined to be a party issue?

you people are so narrow-minded you take one or two issue and label the man a liberal – illegals were not going to get amnesty you idiots! and where are these illegals now? they're in our country, with no one even knowing who they are, where they are, not paying taxes, and sucking up our social services. if you let them report that they are here, we could tax them, keep track of them, they wouldn't fear coming forward as victims or witnesses to crime, we could find and deport the ones who have committed crimes, and they'd be responsible for their own mecial bills because we'd know who they are, where they live, where they work, etc. but oh no, let's NOT do the SENSIBLE thing, let's be a bunch of moronic, irrational, idiots. we'd also being fining them ($5000-$8000 for all you "small fine" people) so they'd have to pay their own way into the country, unlike current INS rules where it's all paid for by the taxpayer. what is your solution? something had to be done and you people missed the boat.

and god forbid he work with other members of congress!!! even though his record is clearly, consistently conservative. the only way to get anything accomplished is through cooperation with both parties – hello people!!!!! what planets are you living on?

"oh no – he didn't originally support bush's tax cuts – he's not one of us!" first of all, you can't cut taxes without cutting spending, otherwise you just build up debt that has to be paid back with interest. hence, he is the real conservative becasue not creating debt saves money. your mr. bush has only given you tax cuts at the expense of our national debt and has done absolutely nothing to correct wasteful spending, including the $150 million bonus the fed gave to his buddy Halliburton for "a job well-done."

as for you "war-monger" people – the president is our COMMANDER IN CHIEF just in case you forgot – and a lot of dems, such as clinton, voted for the war so what are you crying about? also, mccain was the ONLY one who had it right at the very get-go; if he had been president, the war would have been mission accomplished YEARS ago instead of the mess it is now. at least with mccain, if we had to go to war, it'd be done right. you only have yourselves to blame for electing the dumbest, most worthless president of all time, and his mess of an administration.

STOP VOTING FOR YOUR FALSE "FAMILY VALUES" AND MAYBE WE CAN ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED IN THIS COUNTRY. the president is not a legislator – go write your senator and other representatives if you care soooooo much about what other people do with their lives and bodies. the last values guy you voted for massacred thousands of innocent iraqis. good going, "values" voters.

we're voting for a president for goodness sake, not a moral authority. if you need a moral authority, go to church and shut up already. they should rename the republican party the "holier than thou" party.

traditionally, i've voted democratic, but if mccain gets the nomination i am serioulsy considering voting for him, as i'm sure a lot of other independents are. it’s either him or phony baloney clinton.

McCain disgusts me. He is thoroughly a pro-war liberal. He lacks the temperament to be a leader. He campaigns as a "straight-talker", but has flip-flopped more than anyone- on tax cuts, on illegal immigration, on the war, the list goes on. Check out http://therealmccain.com/

Romney is the only real conservative.

I served in the Marine corps, I would not want McCain for a comander and chief. sorry but he is damaged goods and needs to check into some VA benifits.

It seems that too much is seen both on Romneys and Huckabee win.

The relatively small wins of Romney in Muchigan, where he was the Native son, nor in Nevada, where there are many Mormons, In the future he will neither have such handicaps nor enough money for such costly campaigns, the results: see South Carolina.

As for Huckabee, he knows very well that he has litle chance in the large states

Being intelligent enough to realize this, he will continue his campaign to make himself
more known nationwide, and then endorse McCain, not because he coincides
with many of his positions, but because he respects him and know that this
is the only republican candiadte who will win agains Clinton or Obama. Something the fanatic conservatives are not clever enough enough to realize.

McCain is from another era, another time. The guy grew up in Vietnam and the Cold War. Wonderful to have national security experience in those areas! The world has changed – and McCain has not changed with it. The best national security measures reside in the economy. A strong US economy is its best defense against any foreign aggression. Romney is much more a product of the present than is McCain.

If McCain is winning due to broad support (as opposed to GOP core), that actually means he is a more viable candidate in Nov. against Dems.

mike mckibben of florida,

check out Mccains's friends, since you go by the friends a candidate keeps. google keating 5.

by the way, mccain counts GWBush as one of his new found friends. does a new friend for political expediency count?

am a lifelong Republican and I will not vote Republican if McCain gets the nomination. This country is almost gone anyway.

I am a lifelong Republican and I will not vote Democrat if McCain gets the nomination. This country is almost gone anyway.

Sorry, John. You have my utmost respect, but I could never vote for you. Amnesty for illegal immigration and against border protection...you could never have my support. Any self-respecting Republican would die before giving this country back to Mexico!

CNN will you leave this in this time?

So, Mike McKibben, you are saying that you will support the continuation of the two wars we are currently in? Into the next generation of unborns? It could happen.

That is what McCain wants.

Why not judge people (and presidential hopefuls) by what attributes they have to help America? All those social concerns you have won't help much when dealing with world leaders.

I am a Democrat in Florida, and I have not voted for a Republican for President since Reagan's 1st term (I didn't vote for him on his 2nd). If it comes down to Clinton and McCain in the general election, I'll be voting for McCain. If Giuliani or Romney is my choice on the Republican side, I will vote for a Democrat. We don't need 4 more years of Bush under any guise. Where I don't agree with McCain on some issues, I respect his service, and he is a patriot. Sorry Rudy, but I judge people by the friends they keep. Your friends have been arrested in South Carolina for selling cocaine, your best buddy has been indited on 16 counts of federal charges, and your other buddy was part of the "dial a prostitute" scandal. You represent just 4 more years of Bush, and the average American in this country can't afford that.

Rambo McCain maybe an old Dinosuar but he he can still push the launch button for a Nuclear Attack.

I am reading a lot of negative comments about John McCain but of ALL of the candidates he is the only one that I would want as commander in chief, no other candidate is even talking about what they would do to protect this country from further attacks. How often did Bill Clinton say we will hunt them down and bring them to justice and then did nothing? My grandson is a Marine and just completed his first tour of duty in Iraq and was involved in daily combat missions. He said maybe we should not be in Iraq but we are there now and we have to finish the job. He then added that if Iran gets involved he would reinlist in a hearbeat. I don't like the fact that my grandson will return for his second tour in Iraq in a few months but I am proud of what he is doing and what he has done. We should not ignore the economy issues but we should not forget that if we get hit again, the economy will only get worse.

yeah ! the questions that remain are who in their right mind would vote for McCain if they're a conservative because he is NOT one

MAKES A LOT OF SENSE:

I once read that President John F. Kennedy was conducting a press conference and discussing his position on an issue. When he was finished, a reporter pointed out that the president's stance appeared to be the exact opposite of his previously stated position on the matter, to which Kennedy replied, "Yes, I've changed my mind."
In today's political climate, many would have slammed Kennedy for being a "flip-flopper."

It seems reasonable to believe that political leaders of any stripe better serve their constituents when they allow changing circumstances, more information, and better insights to move them toward positions contrary to ones they may have previously espoused. Do we really want elected officials who never change their minds, rigidly ignoring new circumstances and more realistic options? Or are we wiser to prefer individuals who are willing to learn, adapt, and adjust?

Personally, I admire any person mature enough to reconsider a matter with serious reflection and then adopt a different course of action. The presidential candidates need to quit clubbing each other with "flip-flopper" accusations. Some of us find flexibility to be quite a valuable character trait.

L.D. Ellison. VA

Wilkinson, you got it all mixed up, dude.

Your New Corporate Washington loves exploiting illigal aliens. and Mitt is their poster boy. Get your head out of your ..... you know the rest.

Why on earth would anyone vote for John McCain? He touts his military experience while he cozies up to the likes of Kennedy working to give the country away to 20 million illegals. I will never vote for McCain!

He does not have the support of the Republican party because he is not Republican!

Vote Mitt Romney for a new Washington!

yeah, he's a genuine warmonger, unlike Bush who is a lying warmonger. somehow that doesn't give me any more comfort.....

John McCain altered the law so Viacom could purchase CBS. That way, Viacom could make more money and have more ability to censor what we see and hear and read. These politicians want the people to be distracted so they don't notice what's REALLY going on in the background.

People, mainstream media is not objective at all. Wake up, please.

At least McCain is genuine unlike the snakes Romney and Hillary Clinton. It is very easy to discern this look at their faces and listen to them speak. Romney is the worst!

It's not about his age, he's just not a good candidate for this office.

Hopefully his following will get behind Rudy, or anyone but Romney, when he gets out of the race.

This guy is no republican. He loves illegal amnesty. You'd think a person who served in the military would want protect America. I guess giving away our country is the fashionable thing to do. Good job John

Yes, it was a good night for McCain, and yes, conservative republicans like myself hope it doesn't continue. Here in Florida, CNN's latest polls have McCain leading Guliani now. As a Fred Thompson supporter, I hope Florida republicans buck the trend and "confound" the media pundits who all too often push their desired candidate (McCain) on us. I noticed that I could tell who didn't win in Michigan (McCain or Huckabee) because the headline in the local paper (Gainesville Sun) was about Jack Kevorkian's visit to UF. I rightly concluded Romney won.

Since McCain is a RINO (Republican in name only) the votes he is garnering trouble me. Can so many republicans actually be joining the ranks of those who despise this country?

I'm sorry, Mr. McCain

You have served your nation well, but it is time to move on to new faces and new ideas.

Even Hillary is learning this–no old faces standing behind you on the platform!

Mr. McCain will be 72-1/2 when January 20, 2009 comes around–inaugural day. I doubt he could run for two terms due to his age. And if he does, will it be Cindy McCain who will run the nation like Nancy Reagan did?

I am also scared to death that we WILL be in Afghanistan and Iraq 10-15 years from now as McCain's president says. And McCain seems to agree with him!

A vote for McCain is a vote for more of the SAME! How is that working out for you?

So how weird is it that American continues to ask for change but the elite media only supports and offers people like McCain who will provide more of the SAME. Who have we entrusted with enacting change in the past? People like McCain and his gang? Oh, but now he knows what change looks like? The elite media only asks America to support the same actions that will provide the same negative results? Catch my drift? Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and the other elite talk show hacks have asked their zombies many times to rally against McCain but now they are tolerant of McCain when an outsider now tries to get elected outside of their “good o boys” club. The elite media is taking away the voice of America that wants change in support of their misguided views. I hold the elite media and talk show host responsible for suppressing the voice of the peoples with there attacks against the political outsiders.

Only one candidate understands the kind of change American is asking for. He understands change doesn’t mean change of skin color, gender, or poll “a” tician. Huckabee understands Americans are asking for change in direction of family values, government and tax corruption, programs that do not work, illegal immigration, world trade that favors the other side and energy dependence.

Enough with the programs that damaged family values, school accomplishments, increases crime, and increases corruption in this country. Where does all the big poll “a” tician’s campaign funds come from anyway?

America has a chance for real change right now, or asks for more of the SAME! CHANGE or more of the SAME!

McCain – the "plain truth" (despite his currents spins):
AGAINST tax cuts – with the Dems repeatedly in efforts to defeat Republicans
AGAINST border protection and actively FOR amnesty to Illegals – with Teddy Kennedy
AGAINST FREE SPEECH – with Russ Finegold against Republicans
PRO "global warming" penalties on US and its citizens

This guy makes a much better candidate for the Democrats.

And he's OLD. A guaranteed replay of Bob Dole, only with much less party support – sound good Republicans???

I would certainly like to know what the editor mean's by get into the weed's ????

If the exit polls are correct McCain's bid for the white house will be blunted by Romney come super Tuesday He simply does not have the pull with the Republican base voter. Huckabee just don't have a clue on foreign affairs and the party movers and shakers will not support his bid especailly with his views on amending the Constitution. With each Muddled primary Romney increases his delagate lead over his rivals. but it's still wide open between the top four candidates.

Frankly, GOOD. I don't WANT a Republican nominee with "inroads into the conservative heart of the party." The ultraconservatives have had their chance to try and bungle our government. Now let somebody with brains take over. Sheesh...

It bugs me a little that McCain ran as a republican... He should be running as an independent but I have to give him a little credit for being was smart enough to know that he would have a chance as a nominee if he did. He wants to win. Better to to destroy Republican party and win.

WHO IS THE MEDIA REALLY SUPPORTING... doesn't anybody wonder why McCain as going so many media endorsements? He is NO REAGAN and we live in TRULY different times. If MCCAIN WINS THE NOMINATION, I WILL VOTE FOR HILLARY. I will not let him take down the Republican party with him. Better to survive and fight another day.

It bugs me a little than McCain ran as a republican... He should be running as an independent but he was smart enough to know that he would have a chance as a nominee if he did.

Hey, how come on CNN's individual state election pages, the state map isn't color-coded by county for the winners, and individual counties aren't hot-linked for quick access to that county's results?

Used to have this function, and it was very useful –would like to see it come back.

John Mc Cain = George W. Bush part 2

-No way would I ever vote for him

If McCain did not manage to get inroads into the conservative heart of the Republican Party and he won SC, he must have earned the support from the Independents and even Democrats.

FI January 12, 2008 3:48 pm ET

Does anybody remember McCain last year in the following:

Illegal Aliens do the jobs Americans won't do. McCain had the nerve to challenge the American people that he would pay $50 an hour to anyone who would come to his ranch and work the fields the way the Illegal Aliens do.

Remember the phrase "JOBS AMERICANS WON'T DO?"

HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT ILLEGALS BUT HE STILL WANTS TO DO IT. IF HE IS ELECTED, HE WILL WORK WITH KENNEDY AND THE REST OF THE CROWD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. REMEMBER LINDSEY GRAHAM ALSO SUPPORTED THE AMNESTY BILL, FOLKS.

CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE PUT McCAIN ON THE SPOT AND MAKE HIM TAKE A STAND ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION? THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE TO KNOW JUST WHERE THAT MAN STANDS.

I THOUGHT MITT ROMNEY WAS GOING TO DO IT BUT HE IS NOT TAKING THE FIGHT TO McCAIN. AND FRED THOMPSON IS ONLY INTERESTED IN THUMPING HUCKABEE BECAUSE McCAIN IS HIS FRIEND.

THIS NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT OUT BEFORE THE SOUTH CAROLILNA PRIMARY. IF YOU WANT AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS, McCAIN IS YOUR GUY.

You seem to have missed the whole story for the Republicans, which was Ron Paul leaping into second and continuing to destroy Ghouliani in every contest and doing increasingly well.
I just came up from watching CNN to get an update on the elections and hear comments from the front runners, and you are not inteviewing Paul you are inteviewing the also ran in every contest so far Ghouliani ?!@?
Clearly you had lost touch, I changed the channels looking for someone who knows a news story.
Have a nice day.
John

McCain is just another Sr Senator war veteran who has no winning ideas like Bob Dole was a sr senator war vet in 1996. Obama/Oprah or the Clintons would have a very big victory against McCain just like Slick did against Dole back in 96.

Now that the news is out that Rudy is low on money, Mitt is the only candidate that can go the distance and win in November. If the people of Florida do not wake up and give Mitt a win that would make the dems and the media very happy indeed.

A vote for McCain or the Huckster is a vote for the Democrats and economic & international failure

Does a Presidential nominee have the right to choose as a running mate, a person from a different party rather than his own party?? I.E. could McCain choose someone like Bill Richardson as his running mate?
I am a democrat, but would vote for McCain under that senario.

It is very sad to see desperate Fred Thompson attempting to hide his weak accomplishments by expressing himself forcefully against Huckabee! By the way, is it politically correct yet to talk about McCain’s liberal views and past record?WOW, until now, John McCain and “Gubber” "Gram" was considered a treat to the Republican party and hated by most conservatives for their the liberal work in the Senate. Most conservatives will remember the McCain’s “gang of 14” and McCain – Feingold bill! No way Jose!

None of the candidates can match Ron Pauls conservative record, integrity and support for the constitution and his consistant track record with no flip flops. During his 20 years in Congress Ron Paul has never taken a government-paid junket, has never voted himself a pay raise, and does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program. He has never voted for an unbalanced budget or to raise taxes, or to allow the govt. to spend our Social Security Fund money on other govt. expenses. He is a Statesman with integrity, who walks the talk. Paul, a veteran has received more donations from the troops then any other candidate. He served his country as a Flight Surgeon in the Air Force for 5 years. He voted against the war in Iraq, instead urged Congress to hunt down the terrorists responsible fo 9/11. Ron Paul will bring out troops home immediately to protect our national security and our borders here at home. Ron Paul is a Christian with true Christian values. He is not like other Christians who are warmongers, who support illegal pre-emptive wars, torture, and the killing of hundreds of thousand of innocent Iraqis. We owe nearly 10 trillion dollars, and continue to borrow money from China and others for this illegal war. We are virtually bankrupt. Ron Paul voted against the Real ID card, and the Patriot Act which violates are consitutional rights. He will restore habeas Corpus and our constitutional rights. As it stands, the Miltary Commission act and recent Presidential Executive Orders give the President the power to arrest any U.S. citizen, (anti war journalists, war protestors, etc), take their property and put them in jail WITHOUT the right of due process. Wake Up America. Save the Republic, vote for Ron Paul.

McCain is old and slow, he is done, he won't make much head way in this election. Romney will win.

Go Mitt!

The only way that, Hillary Clinton can beat McCain is with Obama as her running mate. I cringe at what a debate between her and McCain would look like.

What does she have on McCain: Experience? Not even close.
Military experience? None
Working in a non- partisan way, reaching across the isle? He has a way stronger record for that, to the extent that many to his right frown heavily. And we all know that nothing big gets done in Washington if you cannot or refuse to negotiate.

Appeal to the Independent vote? not a chance without Obama.

A sense of Honor, while I respect her for her work and putting up with much of what was tossed her way. It is difficult for anyone to match McCain in this department.

The ill advised war? This is an area that she can win at, Americans are not stupid, we know that the Iraqi government is milking us, why pay for the cow?

He would have to campaign on a solid exit strategy, that requires the Iraqi government to take real control of their country. A strategy that has us re-focus on the war on terrorism. The war on Osama and his organization. And that means Afghanistan coupled with painful leverage to Pakistan to git-er-done.

This could get ugly.

Obama, should go Independent, if Hillary wins and does not offer him the VP position. Or maybe McCain should offer it to him! Hey mix it up, that works

Thompson has been in this to help his buddy McCain since he realized he won't win.
Thompson took votes away from Huckabee which helped McCain.
Thompson has been running interference FOR McCain in the debates and now in S.Carolina.
If McCain is elected, I'm sure there will be a nice position waiting for Thompson.
It's called dirty politics.

Super Tuesday, I wonder, will McCain carry the Irish-Americans voters in New York?