WASHINGTON (CNN) – A Secret Service source confirms that there have been contacts to arrange a meeting to discuss possible protection for Senator John McCain. The source tells CNN the contact was initiated by the McCain campaign.
Two sources, one in the campaign and one in the government, tell CNN there has been occasional contact for some time, although the presumptive Republican nominee himself has long declined a security detail. The discussions centered on issues like the potential risk of certain locations, though nothing that has ever reached the point of a specific or worrisome threat.
A sit-down meeting between McCain aides and top agency officials was scheduled to take place several weeks ago - before yesterday's congressional testimony by Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan that the Arizona senator was not currently protected by an official security detail - but that discussion was postponed by the campaign.
That meeting had been scheduled to discuss a timetable for the eventual addition of protection, one that both sources now say they expect to be accelerated, and to begin in the near future (though no specific date has yet been set.) A detail is ready; candidate details teams have been training for months, and there is a McCain team ready to go on very short notice.
From CNN Politics
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I am not worried about his protection against people. I am worried that they need to protect him from his teleprompter personnel. They are sinking his campaign putting all those "ums, blank stares, and angry outbursts" in his speeches like that.
I think most of us are surprised that he doesn't have it, and I wonder at anyone who would say that he isn't entitled to it. As a society we are (and have historically always been) very outspoken about politics, and that is coupled with the naivete and willingness of some to make a name for themselves. There is an inherent danger in running for the presidency that I don't know that anyone could deny.
I am not worried about his protection against people. I am worried that they need to protect him from his teleprompter personnel. They are sinking his campaign putting all those "ums, blank stares, and angry outbursts" in his speech like that.
I honestly don't think he needs it. No one even cares that much about him to attack him.
Any Dem that wins the nomination will be POTUS. No matter who it is. John Mccain is pathetic
Uncle Sam–Yeah, I heard that spin on Rush Limbaugh today, too.
I wish they would hook this guy up with better teleprompter personnel. I can't believe the attacks they form against him. They seem to sneak all these ums, blank stares, angry outbursts and misspeaks into his speeches.
He does not need secret service to stop the 10 people that attend his functions. What a bore.
Obama for President 08'
IT WAS THE BOOS HE RECEIVED IN MEMPHIS AT THE LORRAINE HOTEL WHEN HE SAID HE WAS WRONG TO OPPOSE THE MLK HOLIDAY RIGHT... WHAT...SO NOW HE'S AFRAID OF BLACKS. HE NEED TO BE AFRAID OF THE WAR DEMONSTRATORS!!!
What a jerk!!! Would he have offered King protection? NO. Because
he thought he was better than most people then and he thinks
he is better than the average joe now. McCain, Cindy, cronies make
me sick.
Obama Yes we can. From Retired Professional White Woman
from Day 1.Never have I faltered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Senator McCain MUST have protection, it is a MUST. He is the candidate for the GOP Presidential election. With the democratic party right now in shamble, the next President is McCain. As a TAXPAYER, I DEMAND the Secret Service MUST protect him either Senator McCain likes it or not!
Praetorian from Fort Meyer......Veterans aren't supporting Obama because we "want something more from our 3-4 year tour". We support THE ONLY CANDIDATE that supports us. Is it asking too much that our wounded Vets returning from this moronic war get treated with a shred of dignity....No one is asking for a ticker tape parade, just make sure the rats at Walter Reed don't nibble at our stumps!
"though nothing that hac ever reached the point of a specific or worrisome threat."
What's a hac? Has or had? What'd you mean?
Why does this article have so mayn comments criticizing McCain?
This is standard procedure for a party's delegate during an election year...
It's not like he's doing this out of some ulterior motive. When the dems finally get their act straightened out, their nominee will request it too.
Just shows how oblivious some people are to electoral procedure...
If McCain does not know the difference between Al Quaeda in Irag and Shiite terrorists being aided by iran, then he does need protection by somone who can tell him who the bad guys are.
Are my tax dollars paying for this?
I love how everyone says how McCain is boring.
Thank God we don't elect presidents on their possession of a glib tongue. Oh wait, Obamabots will...
McCain deserves protection – he didn't want it at first to save money, but now that polls are showing him more and more likely to become president, you can expect some left wing nuts to get crazy. He needs it now more than ever!
Absolutly McCain should have protection. He should have had it all
along.
Obama has secret service protection and we the tax payers are paying
for his protection. Why should we pay for Obama? He is not the nominee yet, if he's getting threats then let him pay for his own protection. Hillary gets it because she was the first lady, but Obama
is a nobody and taking our money.
He has at least a 50/50 chance of being our next President. He must be protected against a world of crazy people.
I am an Obama supporter and think that ALL Presidential candidates should have proper protection! BTW good mis-direction Sen. McCain.
Do you really need secret service protection at the Old Country Buffet?
Senator McCain – you might be a war and prisoner of war hero, but this is 2008, and this is a dangerous world. You thought you were so great and arrogant no one would come after you????? GET A GRIP SIR – this is America. Your war experience, your family's war experience cannot stop anything period so GOOD FOR YOU – get the protection you too need just like all other leading candidates. Don't resume everyone loves you.
GO OBAMA
He should have secret service protection.
Obama '08
The guy's poor enough I bet you anything that his party is going to pay him millions of dollars so he can continue his dull campaighn, he won't pay a few thousand dollars to get some secruity
Good, the last thing we need right now is for a candidate to be harmed or killed. I may not agree with McCain's positions, but I want him to be fully protected so that our elections can be held without any kind of incidents.