July 14, 2009
Posted: July 14th, 2009 04:16 PM ET

From
Sen. McCain now has more than a million followers on Twitter.
Sen. McCain now has more than a million followers on Twitter.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain has passed an online milestone.

The former Obama rival now has more than a million followers on the microblogging and social networking site Twitter.

In a statement announcing the achievement, McCain said he was "both honored and humbled" to have amassed such a following. "It has been one of the most enjoyable experiences in my long political career – not too bad for an old guy," McCain added.

McCain's increasing use of Twitter marks a major shift from the presidential campaign when he said he "never felt the particular need to e-mail."

Earlier this year, McCain also became the proud owner of new BlackBerry.

In addition to slightly more than a million followers on Twitter, McCain boasts more than half a million supporters on Facebook.

Filed under: John McCain • Social Networking • Twitter


Ras Disputin   July 14th, 2009 5:59 pm ET

Useless old man...useless

republicans ahte america   July 14th, 2009 5:58 pm ET

yep just about how many voters showed up for you....loser

yuri   July 14th, 2009 5:53 pm ET

McCain is one decent GOP that we can relate to. He may have harsh critics online, in newspapers and the TV, but he somehow makes a few sensible statements now and then that make us pensive.

Four and The Door   July 14th, 2009 5:53 pm ET

k.jones July 14th, 2009 4:25 pm ET

Who cares how many followers John McCain has, he would have carried out the same Bush Administration if he would have been elected president
____________________________________________________

Actually, the the way it played out, John McCain was exactly correct about what would happen with an Obama administration and a Democratic controlled congress. But your argument that McCain = Bush shows that you are probably one of very few people still believing what the Obama campaign was all about. Probably 90% of that campaign is already debunked.

FactCheck   July 14th, 2009 5:51 pm ET

I used to have so much respect for the guy and probably would have voted for him in 2000 but with one dumb move (cough.. Palin... cough), he pretty much destroyed his reputation.

Aunt Bea and Opie   July 14th, 2009 5:51 pm ET

Im offended by those on the right that are claiming not just that President Obama was a poor choice,but that he is evil.Dont try to predict the future or someones character,just because of your biblical beliefs.

ManorsDave   July 14th, 2009 5:50 pm ET

Does anyone really believe that McCain sends out his own Tweets? That's what he has tech-savvy aides for.

Bill, Bloominton IL   July 14th, 2009 5:50 pm ET

Cool dad: Your new president will make sure you dont have any money left to bet with you hater. Why do so many of you Obama backers comment with name calling. At least your president rises above all that. Its too bad his followers put themselves in the gutter everytime they open their mouths.

Sniffit   July 14th, 2009 5:42 pm ET

"McCain is a valuable Senator because of his willingness to stay away from the exrtremism that inhabits the internet and media."

I'm sorry, but Senator McCain is genesis of all the GOPer nutjobs out there regurgitating inaccurate, purposefully misleading, McCarthyistic accusations of "soshulizm" day in and day out in order to anger the pseudo-militia base for fundraising purposes. I'd hardly call that an "unwillingness to stay away from extremism."

SamSunny   July 14th, 2009 5:41 pm ET

After John McCain selected Sarah Palin for his running mate, everything he says and does is suspect to me. Because he has a Twitter page doesn't mean he is actually doing the twittering.

donttreadonme   July 14th, 2009 5:39 pm ET

The new dem lib/mantra “Ask not what you can do for your country—ask what your Government can do for you! “

And while you are at it ask what the dem party is willing to do for your vote!

The dems are prepared to completely sacrifice our economic stability for 30 million new voters.

indy voter   July 14th, 2009 5:37 pm ET

Excuse me, CNN, but what kind of reporting is that........

Signing on to someones Twit is not the same as "supporting" them.....much of it is just curiosity and desire for latest political input....

Nor is Facebook sign up a definition of "Supporter" as just as many who voted against McCain are likely to be interested in what the old guy does and says right or wrong....

Get some facts in your gossip columns sometimes, sheesh....oops, look out here comes another Sarah palin story :) :) :)

donttreadonme   July 14th, 2009 5:37 pm ET

The new dem/lib mantra “Ask not what you can do for your country—ask what your Government can do for you! “

And while you are at it "ask what the dem party is willing to do for your vote!"

The dems are prepared to completely sacrifice our economic stability for 30 million new voters.

You lose all credibility when you say Palin is smart   July 14th, 2009 5:36 pm ET

Ashton Kutcher also has a million followers, I guess Republicans will now say he would make a good President as well.

Pace yourselves Repubs, Obama isn't a quitter like Drama Queen Palin and you will have your chance to vote for the moron in 2012.

Until then, let the smart people handle the country, you had your chance and you blew it big time.

Expat American   July 14th, 2009 5:34 pm ET

Good for him. Maybe now he can twitter me my new gas tax break and textbook I've been waiting for.

McPromise-Breaker!

Libby   July 14th, 2009 5:30 pm ET

@SouthernCousin: If this is a major accomplishment for a man his age, it's a darn good thing we didn't elect him as President. POTUS should be able to use a computer and a BlackBerry.

Larry   July 14th, 2009 5:27 pm ET

Who cares ...?

Jen   July 14th, 2009 5:25 pm ET

What a bunch of negative whiners.

I say good for the Senator! I didn't vote for him as president, but that doesn't mean that I think he's deserving of all these nasty comments.

ModerateLady   July 14th, 2009 5:25 pm ET

Very classless comments without good reason. It says a lot about the people posting them. McCain is a valuable Senator because of his willingness to stay away from the exrtremism that inhabits the internet and media. I'm refering to both the left and the right. We need more moderates not fewer. Keep tweeting Senator and congrats!

ch   July 14th, 2009 5:22 pm ET

McCain deseves NO respect – he is the one responsible for inflicting Sarah Palin on us – knowing full well there is NO way she could ever function as President.

ji   July 14th, 2009 5:22 pm ET

Mr. John,
During your run for President, you boasted that you knew how to
hunt down and capture Osama?
Even though you lost, don't you think you should let the present
President know that information? I believe everyone in America
would also like to know!

Logical   July 14th, 2009 5:22 pm ET

what does he tweet?

"I had a bowl movement today"
"Some youngster looked at my slippers funny"
"I don't remember where I left my teeth"
"Did I tell you I was a POW?"

GOP = Party of Tolerance   July 14th, 2009 5:21 pm ET

McCain already knew the Internets and the Google. Now he also knows the Twitters. McCain caught the attention of an adoring public by picking Palin. Now McCain has recaptured the momentum by serving as a fine example for our senior citizens. With so many people following him on the Twitters no one can deny that McCain is the frontrunner for 2012.

Roger   July 14th, 2009 5:20 pm ET

McCain finally gets something right & its called TWITter. That figures.

Milagros Garcia Villamil   July 14th, 2009 5:19 pm ET

i disagree this woman like any other dummy can becomne pres, we have had several. However those who were'nt so dumb are confused and taking orders from other dummys.
The job of president only requires 3 things

1. lack of concern for the little man -George Bush
2 An inability to follow thier own mind -Barak Obama
3 Or the ability to do as one pleases..-Sarah Palin

So why would she not qualify

Matt   July 14th, 2009 5:19 pm ET

Does CNN post or report on any stories that don't include the words Twitter or Facebook anymore?

Sniffit   July 14th, 2009 5:19 pm ET

@ amy, beth, Steve

I wouldn't worry about it...she's no doubt making Graham look foolish to anyone other than those who had already closed their mind when McCain started Twittering on his garage door opener.

BettyN   July 14th, 2009 5:18 pm ET

Wow – I agree with the other posters here, Lindsey Graham was beyond condescending and sexist to judge Sotomayor. I could not BELIEVE what i was seeing & hearing coming out of his mouth. And who was it, Alex Costellanos who said he though Lindsey Graham was the next GOP rising star. Well – He can exclude all women across America in that one.

Rob in Detroit Mi.   July 14th, 2009 5:09 pm ET

Thats right you old fart way to follow Obama,like it will make a difference

didi   July 14th, 2009 5:08 pm ET

now this dude is learning email....stuff..........good for this coot......

Bill, Bloominton IL   July 14th, 2009 5:04 pm ET

Bill says soustar has no idea how to blog and hit enter once. lol

Steve (the real one)   July 14th, 2009 5:03 pm ET

@Amy July 14th, 2009 4:45 pm ET
McCain's buddy Lindsey Graham is currently talking to Sotomayor in the most sexist condescending manner you could believe for this decade
--------------------------–
No he didn't. He is using her words to explain how if used by a white male would cause people to raise hell and you know it! What hearing are you listening to?

Randolph Carter   July 14th, 2009 5:02 pm ET

Glad to see he can use a computer. He sure can't fly a plane. (He crashed 3 of them.) Have a nice day!

beth   July 14th, 2009 5:02 pm ET

@amy – You are right. Just saw Lindsey Graham's interview of Sonia Sotomayor. It was insulting to women in a big way the way he was talking.

southerncousin   July 14th, 2009 5:02 pm ET

A major accomplishment for a man his age and all the Obamatrons can do is defame and defile him because he ran against the lib they stick their hand down the front of their pants for.

Political Blogging: A New Era Of Self Advertisement | Turning Gears   July 14th, 2009 5:02 pm ET

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Randolph Carter   July 14th, 2009 5:01 pm ET

.... to which he added, "now get off my lawn." Have a nice day!

deby   July 14th, 2009 5:00 pm ET

Oh boy, yippy. Let's get real now. Like this jerk doesn't have better things to do than to be wasting time on this twitter crap. Try spending as much energy paying attention to the real business of this country and not so much on how many fans you want to convince us you have. I can honestly think of much better things this man could be spending time tracking and watching. But I guess when you flop as bad as he did with picking Palin as a running mate, having any "friends" left is something to brag about I guess Thank God he never got elected President. It would be twitter this and twitter that. Enough of this crap please

Creative Woody   July 14th, 2009 5:00 pm ET

Not bad. Only 9+ months too late.

The Lonely Libertarian of Liverpool NY   July 14th, 2009 4:59 pm ET

John who gives a rats butt about your ability to twitter? And what does that have to do with the crisis at hand? You supported the multible bailouts, all of your rich friends are happy, what about the American people John?

Blah, Blah, Blah. The American people said No bailouts No way, but the wealthy got their bailouts, they got to keep the summer home in the Hampton’s, they got to keep their big bonuses, what did the American worker get?
A PINK SLIP!
None of these Elitists in either major party care about the American people, they are all working for the "Progressive Government" bringing about the "New World Order" and these plans have nothing to do about holding the values of the U.S Constitution, our freedom and liberty is being sucked away while we eat our Big Macs.

Steve (the real one)   July 14th, 2009 4:59 pm ET

@k.jones July 14th, 2009 4:25 pm ET
Who cares how many followers John McCain has, he would have carried out the same Bush Administration if he would have been elected president.
----------------------------–
IF you were being fair, you would recognize how the current admininstration is following plenty of the Bush Administration policies. I imagine you have a major problem with that too, right?
McCain MIGHT have followed Bush policies, Obama IS following Bush policies!

amy   July 14th, 2009 4:57 pm ET

If you don't believe that number is inflated, then you'll probably also believe McCain is an expert on the economy...

@ "GOP = Party of Tolerance" – PULEEZE! The entire world knows different.

Sniffit   July 14th, 2009 4:56 pm ET

Learn? Wish he'd learn to keep his yap shut...

LisaSterls   July 14th, 2009 4:56 pm ET

He got plenty of votes. Obama did blow him away you libs are saddly mistaking. Keep up the comments, you guys sound loving and peacefull. Funny how negative the libs realy are.

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   July 14th, 2009 4:56 pm ET

You probaly have to enter your AARP number to view his page.

tweet this   July 14th, 2009 4:56 pm ET

Question is How many of those Million did you buy ? oh wait you cant remember just like you cant remember how many homes you own

Steve (the real one)   July 14th, 2009 4:55 pm ET

Come on y'all, give the man some credit. Remember it was just a few months ago, he didn't even know how to use this technology! One is never too old to continue to learn!

beevee   July 14th, 2009 4:53 pm ET

Old dogs too can learn new tricks. My be too late.

Lisa, Saugus MA   July 14th, 2009 4:53 pm ET

I bet more Obamabots wished that they listened to a voice with experience rather than one who says one thing and does another.

Senator McCain, I am glad you are enjoying Twitter and I hope you do well in your upcoming Senate campaign. The people of AZ are fortunate to have you as their senior senator.

John McCain was my senator for 7 years when I lived in AZ. He is a good man who did a lot for the state.

GI Joe   July 14th, 2009 4:51 pm ET

John, uh, they follow you so they can read first-hand your idiotic tweets. It's not that they love you, it's a game called "gotcha". Ha ha ha ha ha

Jaz in Chitown   July 14th, 2009 4:50 pm ET

@ k.jones

What policies would McCain had kept? 50,000+ troops in Iraq? War in Afganistan? Look at Obama's record, he's keeping the same policies too. And, he thought there were 57 states – although I doubt a fifth grader educated in the public school system here in Chicago would know that's wrong...but thank goodness Obama was wise enough to put that guy in charge of U.S. education.

Doug, New Jersey   July 14th, 2009 4:50 pm ET

K Jones:

So we need to work on our race relations you say, yet you also claim to fully support a justice on the supreme court who believes that her race makes her superior to those of other races?

Instead of just regurgitating the lies and hate that are spoon fed to you from liberal websites and media, you might want to try and think about what it is they are programming you to spew.

Zero.   July 14th, 2009 4:48 pm ET

Too bad for America. you mean John... USA today, means "Useless State of Affairs".

bruce   July 14th, 2009 4:47 pm ET

omg, this is some kind of joke for news, right?

amy   July 14th, 2009 4:45 pm ET

McCain's buddy Lindsey Graham is currently talking to Sotomayor in the most sexist condescending manner you could believe for this decade.

not a Jackson or a Palin fan   July 14th, 2009 4:44 pm ET

GOP = Party of Tolerance

You are absolutely hilarious!

Michael   July 14th, 2009 4:44 pm ET

Yeah, it's amazing what a room full of republican interns can do – but unfortunately a new study shows that Twitter is not something that most young people but much faith into or continue using for very long. One of the reasons is because you cannot VERIFY who's actually at the other end of a Twitter or a Follower.
Unlike facebook where you can access photos, info and more in depth personal info about someone. how many Facebook fans does the 'Old Man' have I wonder. Not FANS, but personally, on his Facebook page?
I'm guessing it's nowhere near the same number. This is most likely because the number of Twitter followers is bogus. Anyone with an email (real or not) can join, and follow.

~~ July ~~   July 14th, 2009 4:43 pm ET

senior citizens with nothing to do ..... jajaaaaa

they sure are united.

Alicia   July 14th, 2009 4:42 pm ET

@ soulstar.....I hope they do run again. I am sure Letterman, Leno, Maher and every other comedian does. I used to respect him. Palin ruined this guy's name.

This is just toooooo funny for words. LOL

ab lafontain   July 14th, 2009 4:42 pm ET

Mcain and palin two TWITS that will never make it!!

come on CNN!   July 14th, 2009 4:40 pm ET

@ k.jones

Because Obama's administration is is wokring out so well for us? You must be one of the millions of idiots who have no idea why they voted for him.

SF   July 14th, 2009 4:40 pm ET

Apparently Twittering to one's own self must count!

Midwest Native   July 14th, 2009 4:39 pm ET

Wow, it's nice to see how tolerant people are when a GOP persona is the focus of an article. I'm waiting for the inevitable tide of "Party of 'No'" and other derogatory remarks to flood this discussion thread.

I see this article as an interesting example of how pervasive social networking is becoming in our daily lives– regardless of which party the networker belongs to.

maude   July 14th, 2009 4:39 pm ET

Sarah Palin is a DIM BULB. She had plenty of time to prepare for various interviews while running for VP. I thought she was "acting stupid" in the Katie Couric interview, only to dazzle us later. It was NO ACT! It should be clear to the voters of America, that the Republican party is making a point with Sarah Palin – "See, there truly IS someone LESS informed (aka more stupid) than George Bush!!!! And I did not think it was possible.

Keep up the good work, GOP!

cool dad   July 14th, 2009 4:38 pm ET

you keep on twittering you old twit. I didn't vote for McCain. Like Roulette, I always bet on black!

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   July 14th, 2009 4:34 pm ET

@ donttreadonme who said "You put country before self interests maybe Obama could learn from you!"

He picked Palin. That wasn't putting "Country First."

Robin   July 14th, 2009 4:34 pm ET

Senator McCain has done more for his country then most of us.

HikingStick   July 14th, 2009 4:33 pm ET

Perhaps some are following on Twitter so they can get news from his next hunting trip before it hits the mainstream press: "Oops...I did it again!"

Ken   July 14th, 2009 4:33 pm ET

I think most of his folowers are either: (i) awaiting his apology for the abysmally stupid move of putting Palin on the 2008 ticket; or (ii) awaiting a twitter sign from god that Rush will choose Palin for the 2012 [R] candidate. If any of them are awaiting a twitter on a subject of significance from McCain, they will be as old and grumpy as he is before they realize their folly.

Nu   July 14th, 2009 4:28 pm ET

I'm among the Million but I honestly don't believe McCain is actually updating his tweets. I think it's an aide.

The Weatherman   July 14th, 2009 4:27 pm ET

It is amazing how Obama is forced to go McCains way or follow Bush policies. I'm laughing every day at the voters who are uneducated but rant anyway.

amy   July 14th, 2009 4:26 pm ET

Riiight, McCain. Keep on telling yourself that America likes you......

Mitch   July 14th, 2009 4:26 pm ET

People who are into Twitter need to get a life....and fast...

k.jones   July 14th, 2009 4:25 pm ET

Who cares how many followers John McCain has, he would have carried out the same Bush Administration if he would have been elected president. I'm also tired of hearing about Sarah Palin and she would never make a good president, considering the fact that she did not know that Africa is a continent, even our children in schools know that answer. Obama, Obama is doing a fine job and I pray that Sotomayor passes her confirmations with flying high marks and yes she is a wise Latina woman. America needs to grow up and work on the race realtions in this country.

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   July 14th, 2009 4:24 pm ET

He must have senior citizen following.

donttreadonme   July 14th, 2009 4:24 pm ET

We would have been much better off with you John. Your age hurt you in many people’s minds but you are truly a great senator!

You put country before self interests maybe Obama could learn from you!

GOP = Party of Tolerance   July 14th, 2009 4:24 pm ET

McCain is unstoppable for 2012!!!
He is hip and knows new technologies like no one else.
If he could run again with Palin they could both learn from their 2008 campaign and do a better job this time!!! America believes in second chances.

soulstar   July 14th, 2009 4:21 pm ET

conan said that mccain twitter on his garage door opener...lol

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