Cleveland Plain Dealer: John McCain Talks Tough in Rocky River Campaign Stop
Says He'll Work to Defeat Terrorists

By Leila Atassi and Patrick O'Donnell, Cleveland Plain Dealer
February 26, 2008

Article Excerpt:

Sen. John McCain vowed that if elected president he will work to defeat what he called "the great transcendent evil of the 21st century -- more widespread than it was before 9/11."

Prompting a standing ovation from several hundred of his supporters Monday in the packed Don Umerley Civic Center Memorial Hall in Rocky River, McCain said that he would never abandon the war on terror.

"If I have to follow him to the gates of hell, I will get Osama bin Laden," McCain declared to thunderous applause.

And he said that under his administration, U.S. troops would never surrender to insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan.

McCain, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, fired up the crowd with his resolve at the morning town meeting -- a format the Arizona senator called the cornerstone of his campaign. Supporters peppered him with questions about immigration, national security, health care and his plan to help struggling urban areas like Cleveland.

Later in the day, he paused for a handshake session at the Colonial Eatery on Ridge Road in Parma, where questions about policy took a backseat to autograph requests and poses for quick snapshots.

In a quick talk as he stood jammed between tables of diners, McCain joked with local officials, repeated his call for lower taxes and went out of his way to thank veterans for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Twice within the brief remarks he praised the Ohio National Guard for its sacrifices, calling its members "the best of America."

At the town meeting, McCain reaffirmed his support of current foreign policy. But he said that Democrats distorted his comments when they quoted him saying that the United States will maintain a military presence in Iraq for the next 100 years. The presidential hopeful said his administration would help U.S. troops gradually transition to a supportive role in fighting Iraqi insurgents.

"The war will be over soon," McCain said. "The insurgency will go on for years and years, but it will be handled by the Iraqis."

McCain also outlined his strategy to re-energize the economy by giving permanent tax breaks to the middle class and by lowering corporate taxes to encourage companies to remain rooted in the United States.

He vowed to put an end to government earmarks for wasteful projects and instead meet with governors to better understand regional needs. . . .

Click here to read the entire article.