Minor on McCains

Bill Minor writes about the McCain family this week.

The possibility now of a John McCain presidency causes me to recall that three generations of John S. McCains, starting with the
grandfather back in World War II, have in different ways crossed my personal life track.

The oldest, Vice-Admiral John S. McCain, was commander of Task Force 38 that my destroyer was part of during the Pacific war. Memorably, in January, 1945, we provided the wizened little admiral "taxi service" at sea from his flagship to meet with Admiral Bull Halsey, the Third Fleet commander, on his flagship.

That meant hauling the admiral aboard by a canvas bag breeches buoy as the two ships rolled and pitched in the angry seas. I recall that when McCain arrived on our forecastle deck, he was swathed in a bulky kapok life jacket that he refused to remove. "Not while I'm on board a destroyer," he growled, remembering that three of our fellow tincans a month earlier went down in a massive typhoon.

To us 20-somethings on the Potter he seemed a tired old man not long for this world. Actually, two days after Japan surrendered, McCain died of a heart attack. Only years later did I learn he was a native of Carrollton, Miss.

The next John S. McCain - John S. II, father of Senator McCain - also had become an admiral, rising to commander of Pacific forces (CINCPac) during the Vietnam War. At the time, his son, Navy Lt. John S. McCain III, was a prisoner-of-war in North Vietnam after being captured when his fighter plane was shot down over Hanoi. Refusing release without his comrades, after 5-1/2 years McCain was freed in late 1973.

In the latter 1970s, Admiral McCain II had an occasion to visit Mississippi and called on Gov. Cliff Finch. Eagerly, Cliff called in the Capitol press corps, giving me a chance to have a pleasant chat with the admiral and share my recollections of having his Dad on board the Potter. (Read the Full Story Here)

Cochran Endorses McCain

Mississippi's senior Senator, Thad Cochran, has endorsed John McCain for President.

Barbour for VP?

Chicago Sun Times runs the rumor that leading conservatives will tell McCain that the man to help him become President is Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour:

Sneed hears GOP presidential front-runner John McCain will be advised by senior conservative party leaders this week to choose Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour as his veepmate -- if he wants to win.

• • To wit: Word is the ultraconservative gathering at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) will hit McCain with the ultimatum in Washington, D.C., where the meeting takes place.

• • The reasons: Barbour is more conservative than GOP opponents Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney, a former RNC national chairman, has strong ties to all national committeemen, governors and Republican leaders, a popular stump speaker, and a big fund-raiser needed for campaign coffers McCain needs filled fast.

Also, here is a campaign to draft Haley Barbour for VP: www.drafthaley.com

McCain claims most money from Miss.

The Clarion Ledger reports that John McCain has received the most money from Mississippi Republicans:

If campaign donations are any indication of support, Sen. John McCain and former Sen. Fred Thompson are Mississippi's favorite presidential candidates. Mississippians donated nearly $1.2 million to all presidential candidates as of the last filing period, which ended Dec. 31, Federal Election Commission records show. That's a fraction of the $582 million raised nationwide. McCain, an Arizona Republican who was helped by former Sen. Trent Lott, raised the most money in the state, $266,103. Michael Harrell, president of Jackson-based Harrell Contracting, gave the Arizona senator $2,300. "He's just my kind of guy," Harrell said. "I've seen him be strong when he has to be strong and compassionate when he has to be compassionate." Mississippi Republicans changed their rules this year so their 39 delegates will be distributed in a proportional method - unless a candidate wins 51 percent or more of the vote. Then the candidate can claim all of them.

McCain Courts Barbour?

McCain's Southern Region Co-chairman Senator Lindsey Graham (his other Southern Co-chair is Mississippi's Chip Pickering) is working endorsements for the frontrunner. According to a Washington Post blog, Graham "said he had already called Georgia Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson to see if they were willing to endorse McCain before their state's Feb. 5 primary. 'They'll come as a package,' Graham said, adding he had told Chambliss -- who is up for reelection this year -- that backing McCain would prove to be an asset in the general election even if it would spark some criticism in the primary. Other Republicans on Graham's wish list? Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour."

Pickering: The Watchwords of John McCain

Chip Pickering writes at The Hill Blog today, "Experience. Competence. Independence. These are the requirements for President. These are the watchwords of John McCain." Pickering makes the case that McCain is the best experienced candidate to lead our nation in matters of foreign policy and homeland security, that he has the proven leadership to make government work effectively, and that McCain has earned the mantle of reform and will bring real change to Washington DC. Read it here.