JERUSALEM (CNN) – The Western Wall is the most sacred structure of the Jewish people. And, for a few minutes anyway, a welcome stop on the U.S. presidential campaign trail.
"The next President of the United States," was a cheer from one of the American tourists crowding a corner of the Western Wall plaza to see Senator John McCain during his visit Wednesday.
After slipping the traditional private note into the sacred wall which once supported the western side of the Second Temple, McCain received a tour of the tunnels of 0ld City Jerusalem.
Later, as he approached a railing to wave to the gathered Americans and a smattering of mostly less-interested Israelis, Eli Ezer of New York took a photo, but kept on a running debate with another tourist about McCain's choice of a running mate.
"Do you think he should pick Lieberman?" the woman asked, referring to Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, the Democrat-turned-Independent who is a McCain supporter, and was at his side Wednesday.
"I hope not, " said Ezer. "McCain is conservative, but only on about 70 percent of the issues. He needs to go for a conservative - [Mitt] Romney would be ok, but I am hoping for Thompson."
Ezer said former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson was his first choice in the Republican field this year, but that he had voted for McCain in the New York GOP primary because Thompson was gone from the race at that point.
Related: Watch McCain pay tribute in Jerusalem
–CNN Chief National Correspondent John King
From CNN Politics
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Did everyone not hear McCain's blunder on Tuesday 03/18?
He doesn't know the difference between Shiites and sunis. Look into this story. He would be making decisions about war? Another puppet who needs someone talking in his ear. Scary very scary. How come we don't see this splashed all over the news? I read only one article about this and nothing on T.V. Not very informative to the public.
Why isn't McCain visiting Gaza and the West Bank? A true leader would do so.
It hurts alot more than the economy...
4,000 US Soldiers dead
30,000 US Soldiers wounded
100,000+ Iraqi's that died that wouldn't have
Cowards that allow our beloved Constitution to be comprimised in the name of "security" and "torture"
The good name of the United States stained
...just to start
McCain returning to what he remembers as Mesopotamia?! He probably celebrates not knowing the difference between Iran and Iraq, ya know...kinda like that Country&Western song he loves so much.
"McCain will continue to stain our good name!"
OBAMA or HILLARY!
We now have a president who doesn't have a clue, let's not elect another one. The next debate should put all the candidates in seperate rooms and without notes, so they can not hear each others answers. Then McCain and Obama can openly reveal their ignorance of the issues, without someone there to correct them. Vote for McCain get 4 more years of Bush, Vote for Obama and have Wright mentoring the White House.
Good retirement city stay there old man John.
The only reason McCain is running I think his life long dream is to run his own war.Some people dream of becoming President and then there is McCain dreaming of his own war. He might not be a bad President if he wasn't flip flopping and so tight with Bush and wasn't so hungry for this war to continue.He just looks and acts to excited to get his hands on this war and not really concerned with the people of AMERICA and what's happening here.I think his priorties are all messed up like Bush has been for the last 7 years.NO MORE!
Iam a rockie in politics, but I can do better than John what do you think guys.
The City, that "Jordan" likes to think belongs to them....
Senator McCain, I'm totally against you becoming our next president, but I would like to offer one word of advice. "Dump the loser/traitor Lieberman"! Any loyal democrat should cringe at the sight of him–what a loser!!!!!!
McCain needs to pick a VP that will help build his conservative base. I know he is good friends w/ Lieberman, but picking him as a running mate would be an absolute disaster. McCain is already moderate enough, he needs to win over religious conservatives, picking a Dem (yes, even though Lieberman is an independent, he is still a Dem in many peoples eyes) would be political suicide. Personally, I like Romney as his running mate. Romney would sure up the conservative base, and also sure up the economic side, which McCain admittedly lacks. Although, I don't know how much Romney's religion would come into play. Huckabee would definitely sure up the religious conservatives, but I just can't see this man in office at this point in time.