I just finished a one on one sit down interview with John McCain in Orlando, Fla. The key parts of the interview are transcribed below. The video will be added later this afternoon. A lot of interesting information in the interview.
He says he WILL support Romney if he's the nominee. He speaks out about rumors concerning remarks some say he made about Justice Samuel Alito. He also talks about being depressed when his campaign took a nose dive this summer, and he continues to hammer Rommey throughout. I asked if he likes Romney. He didn't say yes.
John McCain on Romney's multiple positions:
Watch the video here.
I think you've got to look back in that in New Hampshire after he had spent millions of dollars attacking Governor Huckabee, who's a very good and decent man, in Iowa. Then in New Hampshire, he ran millions of dollars in attack ads against me. That's the way he's conducted his campaign, and of course nobody particularly likes to be attacked.
And he continues to have two positions on every issue. He's consistent in the way he has two positions. Today he attacked me on climate change. He used to support cap and trade. I mean, literally every issue he's had the opposite position on. But look, I respect Governor Romney, and we will move forward. And I hope we will be victorious tomorrow, and then move on to Super Tuesday.
John McCain on rumors of remarks about Justice Alito: Read more about that here.
Watch the video here.
I'm so proud of Justice Alito. I'm so proud of playing a role in getting his nomination through the United States Senate, he and Justice Roberts. And I've said many times that my nominees as President will be people like Roberts and Alito. They're the role model for what we're going to do when I am President of the United States because I have the greatest admiration for him and Chief Justice Roberts.
John McCain on Romney and Judges:
As you know, he made some appointments in the state of Massachusetts which were judges who did not strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States, although I guess maybe he can argue those were state judges.
Look, I'm so proud of this President for appointing Roberts and Alito, and as you know, there could be as many as two or three, in the next President's term, vacancies on the Supreme Court. I'm proud that Lindsey Graham and I, and Jon Kyl and some of the rest of us got so many judges through the United States Senate. And, of course, those two were the prime examples.
I will only appoint or nominate judges who have a clear record - not statements, but a clear record of strictly interpreting the Constitution of the United States. We all know there's been legislating from the bench that has harmed, or I think, threatened some of the fundamentals of the constitutional role of the judiciary.
Does John McCain like Mitt Romney?
Watch the video here.
David Brody: You say you respect him, but I have to say that in the 24/7 cable news wars, a lot of people have made this big deal about how many of the candidates and the campaigns don't like Mitt Romney. How do you feel about him personally? Some of what he's done, you have a problem with. Do you like the guy?
McCain: I don't know him well personally. I know he's a good family man. I know that he comes from a fine family, but I don't know him. I've got to tell you. I've gotten to know Governor Huckabee. I think he's one of the more decent people I've ever known. Fred Thompson is a close friend of mine. Rudy Giuliani and I have fundamental differences, but I still think he was an American hero after 9/11. I've gotten to know these other candidates and gotten to like them very much. I just haven't gotten to know Governor Romney.
John McCain on his enemies within the Republican Party
Watch the video here.
Brody: How do you tangibly bring some of these folks in Washington, these groups and others that really kind of have it in for you a little bit? How do you bring everybody together when you're President?"
McCain: I think the main thing is to try to reach out to all parts of our party, no matter what they are, and help them recognize that one, we've got an uphill battle. Let's have some straight talk, And second of all, the prospect of Senator Obama or Senator Clinton should be a uniting factor.
But third of all, I really believe the majority of our religious conservatives are more concerned than anybody else about the threat of radical Islamic extremism. They know what an evil this is. They know what a threat it is to everything we stand for and believe in. So I believe I can appeal to those large numbers of conservatives who I think I can prove am best able to confront that evil.
I recognize that there are areas where we may have disagreed on, but overall, I am very proud of my conservative record, and I hope they'll examine it.
Would McCain Support Romney if he won the nomination?
Watch the video here.
Brody: Would you be concerned with a Mitt Romney as a Commander in Chief because you know these times are so vital as they are today?
McCain: No. If Governor Romney were the nominee of our party, I would support him and do everything I could to elect him. I respect the process that our party goes through. We'll have to respect that, but do I think he has the experience or the knowledge or the background that I have? Of course not. Of course not.
He has no experience in these issues and that's fine. A lot of other Americans don't either. But I really worry when back in April of 2007, when things are really tough, Governor Romney basically approved of timetables. That was the buzz word by the Democrats and some Republicans to get out of Iraq. If we'd have done that, al-Qaeda would be telling the World today they beat us.
That was a crucial time. When people like Lindsey Graham and I and the President were willing to put it all on the line because we knew that we had to have that surge, nobody wanted to increase troops in those days. We stood fast and unfortunately, Governor Romney did not.
John McCain on his political revival (I had to use an Evangelical term!)
Watch the video here.
Brody: Can you take me back to where a lot of people gave up on you. I'm wondering personally, emotionally - not politically - how that affected you and why you are stronger maybe today because of it?
McCain: Well, I have to give you straight talk. I was a bit depressed, to say the least, because obviously I can read polls, etc. Lindsey Graham, Joe Lieberman, and I were in Baghdad and we were invited by General Petreaus to be present and speak at a ceremony where 688 brave young Americans reenlisted to stay and fight in Iraq.
On the way back on the plane I said to Lindsey, 'you know, here I go around feeling sorry for myself and maybe my political career is not doing so well. But here are these young people willing to sacrifice, to risk their lives in defense of somebody else's freedom. It seems to me that you and I have to make sure that we don't surrender.'