Oregon Republicans like McCain's 'absolute confidence'


By Janie Har, The Oregonian
September 5, 2008

Article Excerpt:

Tualatin business owner Aaron Crowley admits he wasn't always jazzed about Republican presidential nominee John McCain. The Arizona senator was rock solid on the war, Crowley said, but had fumbled with campaign finance reform and an initial reluctance to drill for oil.

On Thursday night, the 32-year-old stood with his wife and kids at a noisy Chuck E. Cheese's pizzeria in Portland as McCain officially accepted the Republican nomination on live television. Crowley was sold.

"What comes through is his absolute confidence and willpower. Unbending, unwavering character that is just solid," he said. "It's very comforting."

McCain stands as a beacon of hope for Republicans in a state where Democrats hold a commanding registration lead. Democrats are threatening to widen their numbers in the Oregon House and have solid shots at keeping control of most statewide seats. The top Republican in the congressional delegation, Sen. Gordon Smith, has endorsed McCain but has also aired re-election ads cozying up to Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

But the McCain-Palin campaign estimates that supporters showed up at roughly 80 parties across Oregon on Thursday night to watch McCain speak about his commitment to security, lower taxes, bipartisanship and a "culture of life."

The event at Chuck E. Cheese's, however, was more kid-driven than campaign-driven, organized by a group of conservative-minded Oregonians who wanted a chance to talk politics without boring their children.

Children hopped onto a small carousel and scampered from game to game as some 60 adults watched McCain on three large screen televisions flanked by large, moving puppets.

They applauded loudly when McCain said he promised to cut taxes where he could and when he vowed to end corruption. They listened respectfully when he recounted his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. And they really got excited when he said he wouldn't appoint judges interested in legislating from the bench.

Lynne Maginnis, 51, who owns the Chuck E. Cheese's franchise with her husband, Tom, said she was undecided until McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. Like some others in the room, Maginnis supports abortion rights but wasn't bothered by the campaign's opposition to abortion.

"She tipped me," Maginnis said of Palin. "Absolutely. I have never had a connection with a candidate before like I did with her last night. I am so proud of what we women can do."

Maginnis also liked what McCain said about security and taxes. "He said things I wanted to hear."

Bill Schaub, 57, a lawyer in Portland, wanted former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to clinch the nomination. But Schaub was one of the loudest and most consistent clappers for McCain.

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