McCain says he'll lose if voters don't agree on Iraq, immediately says "I'd like to retract that"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

John McCain Says He Could Lose Over Iraq War

LIZ SIDOTI | February 25, 2008 02:16 PM EST | AP

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio — John McCain said Monday that to win the White House he must convince a war-weary country that U.S. policy in Iraq is succeeding. If he can't, "then I lose. I lose," the Republican said.

He quickly backed off that remark.

"Let me not put it that stark," the likely GOP nominee told reporters on his campaign bus. "Let me just put it this way: Americans will judge my candidacy first and foremost on how they believe I can lead the county both from our economy and for national security. Obviously, Iraq will play a role in their judgment of my ability to handle national security."

"If I may, I'd like to retract 'I'll lose.' But I don't think there's any doubt that how they judge Iraq will have a direct relation to their judgment of me, my support of the surge," McCain added. "Clearly, I am tied to it to a large degree."



Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., talks with reporters on his campaign bus en route to a town hall meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, Monday, Feb. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

[madaboutharry]

1. He is probably surprised that

it got printed that way.

[jgraz]

2. hahah -- nice one, Johnny

BTW, A.V., you could have posted this in GD since it's not about the Democratic primary. That way you don't have to blow one of your three daily posts.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

7. I didn't realize that...thanks

:toast:

[Recursion]

3. I liked the express better when it was straight talk

This fast talk express is going to be really tiresome.

If he had left it at that, he would have had a good point: his best move is making this a forum on Iraq and hoping the opposition to the war is softer than we think it is (and honestly it may well be).

[cottonseed]

4. He'll be retracting a lot of things soon.

Including is love affair with everything Bush.

[BeyondGeography]

5. He was right the first time

[Greyskye]

6. Tales from the Twist Talk Express

[Ano Genitus]

8. His bus looks like a fun and friendly place to be!

[TwilightGardener]

9. Are all those happy reporters asking him why he lied about meeting

TV station execs and why his staff had to keep a hot lobbyist away from him? No? I didn't think so.