McCain 2.0: Senator on Twitter, with a new BlackBerry to boot
WASHINGTON (CNN) - John McCain said during the presidential campaign that he "never felt the particular need to e-mail," but he has apparently developed an urge to Twitter.
McCain recently began sending tweets to the more than 88,000 Twitter users following him online, offering brief updates on floor votes, media appearances and his hometown Phoenix Suns.
"steve nash hurt? amare too! what now for the suns!," he wrote about the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.
Senators have been slower than their House colleagues to embrace the micro-blogging technology, but several members of the upper chamber - notably Missouri's Claire McCaskill and Iowa's Charles Grassley - have been among the most prolific twitterers on Capitol Hill.
While other senators appear on Twitter, many of them (or their staffers) simply use the site to send out formal-looking messages and press releases. But McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan told CNN the Arizona Republican is sending out his own authentic tweets.
According to his Twitter page, the senator is following updates from a handful of journalists who covered his campaign, as well as from a few members of his South Carolina campaign staff.
Buchanan also revealed that McCain is now wielding a brand new BlackBerry, which he picked up in January. That marks a great leap forward for the senator, who spent the campaign attached to his Motorola Razr phone, but never used a PDA.
Throughout the campaign, McCain suffered from the perception that he didn't quite understand the Internet, an assessment that proved damaging in a race against a young, tech-savvy opponent. In an interview with the New York Times last July, McCain said he knew how to use a BlackBerry, but that he didn't have his own.
"I use the BlackBerry, but I don't e-mail, I've never felt the particular need to e-mail," he told the paper.
- CNN's Dana Bash contributed to this report
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I hope he got it for free, since he invented it.
McCain should have been President – he's the real deal.
Johns the man now,beam him up Scotty,hes ready for lift off.
Welcome to the 21st century Sen. McCain! If you run into trouble with your gadgets, feel free to stop any 10 year old and ask for help.
And we care why?
McCain can now use technology everybody else has been using for 10 years and we are supposed to be impressed?
He is still a disrespectful, dishonorable, and bitter old man who needs to retire. No technology can change that.
too late buddy.!
or should i say...my friend
How nice of you to join the rest of us here in the 21st century, Senator.
There goes the last intelligent republican in the Senate. Off to Twitter-land. Since when is "tweet" an acceptable verb?
We're doomed.
At his age he should start completing his" AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE I DIE LIST".!!! GOD BLESS HIM.
Is this really news? Who cares?
Senator McCain welcome to the 21th century.
Now please change the old and tired GOP talking points clearly they are staled and are not fooling the American public anymore. How about new talking points like vote for what best for your state and do not keep voting the old tired GOP party line vote 99.99% of the time.
If Jindal is smart as the neo-cons claim he is, he would have left katrina alone in his pathetic speech last night.
It offend the sensibility of the American people to open that raw wound of bush injustice and cruelty to the plight of new Orleans after katrina.
Blackberry or not, he's still a capital L Loser..
That is so cool that John has gotten a Blackberry!! Twitter is another name for Fritter. He has also mastered the crayon and a simple pencil sharpener. John...where is Joe The Plumber? Remember how important he was just six weeks ago???
Uh oh. This could be dangerous.
Old man tweets at clouds.
For heaven's sake, do the Republicans have to copy-cat everything Obama does? The Republicans are looking like fools.
Obama has a Blackberry so McCain gets a Blackberry. McCain would dye his skin tone if he thought he could get away with it....Dumb fool.
Ain't he hip?
The Partys over, literally ...twitter that!
It won't be long before John will have (8) blackberries!! That's right!! One to put in every one of his homes/condos! Afterall, Republicans really are "CONSERVATIVE" aren't they!!!!!
Sen "Geriod", my grandson, 6 yr's, said "Pop-Pop Pres Obama on TV, way is he(U) on tonigh?
the old man and his technology.
great.
go ahead with yo bad self, CNN
Well, welcome to the technological advances of the new millenium, my friend.