YORK, Pennsylvania (CNN) - John McCain used one of his largest and most ambitious town halls to date to brandish a pair of surrogates, Joe Lieberman and Tom Ridge, who may help him shore up support among independents in this fall battleground.
The Tuesday stop began with some campaign stunt work that turned the typically-mellow format into a lively Pennsylvania event that resembled one of the noisy rallies that characterized the Democratic primary.
The audience on hand - estimated by the campaign as north of 3,000 people - far exceeded the size of a standard McCain event. And the audience, who had been warmed up by a pair of television screens broadcasting a biographical film about the candidate, rose to their feet when McCain, Lieberman and Ridge arrived.
The trio entered the York Expo Center in the Straight Talk Express, which motored into the indoor venue under a massive American flag that was hoisted up to reveal the campaign bus, all while the theme from “Rocky” blared.
Lieberman then marshaled the audience by seeming to question Obama’s patriotism and commitment to bipartisanship in Washington.
"In my opinion, the choice could not be more clear, between one candidate John McCain who's had experience, been tested in war and tried in peace. Another candidate who has not,” Lieberman said to applause. “Between one candidate, John McCain who's always put the country first, worked across party lines to get things done, and one candidate who has not.”
For his part, McCain plugged the moderate records Lieberman and Ridge, and praised their commitment to keeping the country safe.
Though he made a strong push to attract independents in his town hall performance, demanding that congress work together to solve the country’s energy crisis, the GOP nominee for the first time acknowledged he faces a deficit of support among younger voters.
Responding to a former Hillary Clinton supporter who asked what McCain will do for younger Americans, McCain said: “I'll give you straight talk. I need to do a better job with young voters in America.”
From CNN Politics
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These stooges are the biggest joke in US history. They have nothing on Obama and they know it.
NOTE: 89 DAYS before Election Day. The GOP is shakin' in their shoes!
lol this coming from a guy who always puts Israel first, not America. Good one, Joe.
Please Election day get here soon!!!!
I don't want to hear about this clowns anymore!!!!
This is an absolutely outrageous comment coming from Joe "Israel" Lieberman. I'm not a big fan of Obama but let's be serious. Lieberman has been shilling for Israel all along. That is why he is so adamant that we stay in Iraq - so we can fight Israel's battles for them. I think this is sickening, absolutely sickening. Now Lieberman wants us to fight Iran. Does anyone wonder why?
What will the koolaid drinkers do when their Messiah looses, therapy mabe, people with blind faith have a lot of trouble with reality and reality is not on their side. Obama is not the one but they think that everybody who doesn't vote for this empty shell is a racist and that's all they can say because most of them can't even mention one acomplishment that Obama has done. Sick little puppies.
Lieberman should be ashamed. He and McCain are on the same ugly page though–bomb now, talk never. And if you disagree with us, oh, my, you must not love the US of A. So wait, we'll tap your phone and go through your credit, and see if we can't come in the night and take you to Gitmo for some good ole American torture. Lawyer, you ask? Not here...you are an enemy combatant, and you deserve whatever we say you do. Housewife from Podunk, you say? So? I say you're bad, so you must be bad.
Meanwhile, the true war criminals attend the Olympics, smile smugly, and continue shredding the Constitution. Today the Endangered Species Act, tomorrow they'll be drilling useless wells somewhere.
If these guys get any more full of themselves, I will throw up.
"Put America First??" HEY – Wasn't it Bush and McCain who proposed the sale of US Ports to Dubai??? And don't we still have an unsecured Mexican border, as well as MILLIONS of H1 and L1 immigrants taking our jobs??
Where do these guys get off? The nerve.
I agree with Joe. for Obama's ticket, I think Obama and Larry Craig, the two Idaho winners should team up. By the Way---
Obama's worldview as expressed in Berlin is much closer to the whining, hand wringing critics of Truman, Kennedy and Reagan than it is to the views of these three stalwarts of freedom.
Obama's response to evil in the world is not "We are staying in Berlin, period," "Ich bin ein Berliner" or "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."
Obama's response is "everybody hold hands and sing Kumbaya, cuz golly gee if the world will only 'act as one,' all our troubles and all the bad guys will go away."
Lieberman has guts for telling the truth. I like him.
Obama country first ? Who's he trying to snow ?
It's Obama for Obama and his ring of bad friends: Rev Wright, Ayres, The Detroit Mayor, Jesse Jackson, Lesko and the rest of the souls Mr. Obama is good at attracting.
It's said that a man's character can be judged by the company he keeps.
I rest my case.
Lieberman the turncoat....like anyone listens to this old Fool
MCBush.... fool #1
Lieberman..... fool #2
Ironic words from Sen. Joseph Leiberman (R-Israel)...
Loserman has lost his marbles. what a scumbag.
McCain, lobbyists, and the oil companies. Separated at birth!
leiberman, you are just another hater. you and mc old should both go sit down and make room for someone who can actually make some changes. you old goats have had years to make changes and did nothing. you are both so very out of touch. the only thing mc old(mc cain) wants to talk about is WAR.
OBAMA ALL THE WAY.
LEIBERMAN R-ISRAEL insinuating that Obama doesn't put America first?????????????????????????????????????????? Leiberman is only up McCains rearend because he is willing to attack Iran for Israel. Such HYPOCRACY. Unreal.
While Bush and McCain continue to present their black and white, them vs us world views, the world ignores them while France and Finland lead the diplomacy to diffuse and end the hostilities.
The nerve of Joe Lieberman!! Who does he think he is??? I can't believe that anyone has the right to question someone else's patriotism. I'm sick of it. I served my country for almost ten years and I loved the time that I served, but I'm no fool to believe that America is an imperfect country and we have a lot of things we still have to work on. He ought to be kicked out of the Senate for saying idiotic things like this.
Bunch of desparate people.
Lieberman is an idiot. There's nothing more to say. And as an idiot, he should switch allegiance and go with the rest of the idiotic Republicans!
TWO OLD STUFFY GRUMPS
NEITHER OF YOU ARE SANE ENOUGH TO RUN THIS COUNTRY.
McCain puts himself first....
Lieberman puts Israel first...
Obama, puts the USA first.
Wake up people!
And LIE-berman joins the other pseudopatriot by questioning someone else's love of country.
Lesson I learned in grade school: If you have to deflect your own weaknesses on others in order to make your point then you obviously haven't owned your guilt and shortcomings.
John McCain who's always put the country first .liar.
If John McCain also put his country first why did he let the beer comapany that his wife has a share go to other country.
vote for John McCain you vote for third Bush. We can not vote for Bush any more.
Mccain go home and rest . you are too old
so putting country first means invading iraq when they posed no immediate threat to us? does putting country first mean starting a war with iran? russing? north korea? how about we reinstate the draft and see how many people want this guy "putting country first."