Sen. John McCain, the onetime and possibly future presidential candidate, took a quick train ride to Baltimore on Friday evening to raise an undisclosed amount of money for Lt. Gov. Michael Steele in his race for the U.S. Senate.
“The Republican Party needs diversification,” McCain said at a brief news conference outside Penn Station. “We need voices from all over America. ? We have no [Republican] African-American senators.”
“Michael Steele understands the issues of inner-city Baltimore,” the Arizona senator said, and other issues such as poverty and housing. “He brings unique credentials.”
“I look forward to being another independent voice in the Senate, a maverick if you will,” Steele said, associating himself with McCain?s well-known reputation as someone who has often bucked his party?s leadership.
Asked if he and Steele had discussed their differences on stem cell research, which McCain supports and Steele opposes, the two men laughed.
“I?m trying to bring him back,” McCain said. “We?re working that out,” Steele said vaguely.
“I?m sure there are other issues that we?re in disagreement on,” McCain said. “We need to have a discussion within the party” on all the major issues. “On all the basics, there?s a long list of issues we?re in agreement on,” such as less government and a strong national defense.
McCain said, “I will be coming back on several occasions between now and November to try and help his campaign.” McCain reminded reporters of his own long ties to Maryland. He attended the Naval Academy in Annapolis, and he has a son currently at the academy.
“I really feel this is avery important and winnable race.”
Democrats have been working hard to associate Steele with the unpopular policies of President Bush, but McCain didn?t think Steele would be hurt by the support he?s received from Bush. “He?s his own man,” McCain said.
In a statement issued before McCain came to town, Democratic Party Chairman Terry Lierman took shots at both McCain and Steele.
“McCain must really be trying to burnish his right wing conservative credentials if he?s raising money for Michael Steele,” Lierman said.
On WBAL radio on Tuesday, McCain said he had made no decision about a presidential race on 2008, but was more focused in retaining Republican control of the House and Senate in this year?s election.
