YOUR COMMENTS

Because about 80% of U.S citizens insist on serious measures taken against illegal immigration, McCain is toast in the southern states, and many western states, and eastern states as well, so he's out, leaving the only candidate who can beat Hillary, that's Rudy Giuliani.

Rudy also has pledged to appoint constructionist Supreme Court Justices, who would allow states to more decide what's good for their people, according to the Tenth Amendment, which constructionist Justices uphold, but which liberal judges try to interpret into oblivion, so Rudy stands with the majority of the American people, and thereby, will defeat Hillary.
- James I. Nienhuis, Houston, Texas

McCain isn't a flip-flopper?? Surely you jest! This is the same man who wrote and sponsored the bill that would have given TWELVE MILLION illegal immigrants instant amnesty and now he disavows everything about the bill and won't even admit to having written it while campaigning! John McCain's a "straight talker," alright. Although now, he's talking straight out of his butt.
- William Smith, Manchester, NH

"McCain has a long record of advocating spending and tax cuts." Which planet has the editorial board been living on? McCain was against the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003. He was one of only two Republicans who voted against this economic rejuvenation policy in 2001 and one of three Republicans in 2003. McCain's biggest transgression was on our First Amendment Right in the sponsoring of the McCain-Feingold Bill that limits freedom of speech. His suspicion of an individual's right to provide money to a candidate's campaign is evidence enough of a nanny state mentality and a lack of confidence in our Constitution. The recent endorsement from the Boston Globe and Joe Liberman has only undermined my support for his candidacy as it shows a common ground between big government ideas and a distrust for free markets and individual freedoms.
- Kyle, Bedford

New Hampshire's first in the nation primary status used to mean something. For decades we looked at the candidates and made up our own minds about who could best lead the country and in the process we played a role in picking a direction for the country.

Now, with the bunched up primaries and the obsession with looking the polls and the various fictional match-ups between the candidates we are loosing our direction and just becoming media poll-bots.

I urge everyone from both parties to look at the candidates and select the one that you think really is the best for the country. If that is McCain for you then fine, we can choose to disagree.

I've looked at the candidates and I am supporting Fred Thompson. I encourage everyone to take the time to get to know the positions of the candidates and not fall for voting for someone just because a paper asked you to or because you hear a cute sound-bite that tries to sum up a candidate.
- Jeff, Nashua

Till victory is America's and there is no enemy-but peace....
- james george, Seabrook

McCain isn't a flip-flopper? During his last campaign he stayed away from the extreme religious-right. He called them what they are- a dangerous nihilistic minority. Now what is he doing? Now, after he's experienced first-hand how racist and powerful they really are, he's pandering to the bottom 20%. How low will he go?
I would have supported him if this was the McCain of 2000, but not this one. We don't need another George "lameduck" Bush, and his conservative-circus.
We need a new direction, not another "stay the course" when we know from the last eight years that it doesn't work.
- Joe Turcotte, Derry, NH

Some of the people on this thread need to get their facts straight. John McCain is the most consistently conservative, experienced candidate running, period. Anyone who believes that McCain flip-flopped or ever based his decisions on the prevailing political winds is severly mistaken. Immigration reform, anyone? John McCain has never been anything but pro-life, never been anything but a low tax, low spending, limited govt advocate. In other words, what some of us used to call 'conservative' not too long ago. He only opposed the Bush tax cuts because there was no spending restraint with it. One trillion dollars in natl debt later, history has proven him absolutely correct, as it has quite often lately. Thank God the Union Leader and others have shown the courage to recognize that, as McCain is the true leader we need right now
- Corey Cronrath, Reading, PA

A good endorsemenr. I notice that there are candidates who read the polls, see what direction public opinion is going, and then run in that direction to be at the head. Others appeal to the worst in us by offering to buy our vote with whatever political payoff they can promise. And, then there are those who are true believers in what they profess but, unfortunately, are usually so far on the fringe of things that they cannot be considered a serious contender for such an important post as President of the United States.

Every once in a while, regrettably all too seldom, there is a candidate who has built a public life on a foundation of reason and integrity. In this election that candidate is John McCain. He won't pander for our vote, nor promise us a rose garden if elected. He says, esscntially, this is who I am, this is what I stand for, this is my record, and this is what I will do as President.

There is no fllip flopping because he was "wrong" on immigration. He explains his position, and hopes we see the whole picture the same as he does, and understand his effort to deal with the realism of the millions of illegals already here as well as to seal the border from future intrusion. He got the message, he says, and will beef up protection. Based on his history of straight talk, I think he can be believed.

Again, it was a good endorsement of the only candidate with the stature, integrity, knowledge, and honesty to be President.
- L Marshall, San Diego, California

The Bush administration has condoned torture and implemented detention of prisoners without trial, all the meanwhile basically misguided in matters of war and foreign relations. John McCain would return us to the rule of law and competence in international affairs. I disagree with his stance on campaign finance, but this issue is nowhere near as important as an understanding of basic human rights that McCain can be counted on to uphold.
- Joshua Kennedy, Norfolk VA

Very good article. I think McCain is building serious momentum in New Hampshire and could win if Romney stumbles in Iowa.
- Alex Kowaleski, Winter Springs, FL

I’m sorry to see the Union Leader endorse Senator McCain. I had planed to vote for him but with the Union Leader’s endorsement it makes me think that he may be too conservative for my likes.
I’ll look more at some of the others.
- Pete Eldredge, Somersworth

i voted for mccain in his last nh primary and i may do so again. he impressed me as a leader then and i don't see anything to make me think different now
- don sampson, hillsboro

John McCain is the only Republican who can beat Hillary. He is the only Republican who does not pander for votes. Nobody agrees with him on everything, but everyone knows he will be the best Commander-in-Chief.
- Tom Liddy, Chandler, AZ

Ha what a crock. People want CHANGE. MCCain thinks Bush's surge is working, that is utterly untrue. The surge has caused a temporary lull that is misleading. There has been NO POLITICAL PROGRESS in Iraq, and at over $1,000,000,000 A DAY for a lull it is obvious that we are not succeeding. McCain plays politics with our soldier's lives, panders to those who's egos refuse to let them reconsider our many mistakes. Once in office he'd be torn apart by the many lobbyists who also have his views. Might as well just keep Bush in there as elect old John.
- Mary Holmes, Nashua

Mccain lost all my respect when he failed to oppose Bush/Cheney's lie-justified attack on Iraq, and their continued attacks on the US Constitution. Apparently he kept silent (or occasionally offered the very slightest token opposition) in an effort to stay on the Republican good side so he could run for Pres. In other words, furthering his own ambitions was more important to him than protecting the American people from an overreaching President.

Several candidates - Richardson, Kucinich, Gravel and Paul - opposed the war early on, and oppose the shredding of the Constitution. Richardson in particular has more foreign policy experience than McCain, and is an experienced executive - a governor - with a solid record of accomplishment. He would be a much better choice than McCain.
- Tom St.Martin, Candia

Yet another Republican flip-flopper. First he was against the "religious right", now he works with them. First he was against the war, now he's for it. First he was pro-choice, now he's pro-life. Just because he wore the uniform does not make him qualified to do the job as president. What will change next? His position on torture? The "straight talk express" left the station a long time ago-this one is just another Republican parrot.
- Joseph Turcotte, Derry, NH

Iraq and Iran will be the top issues in the general election debates next year. According to numerous polls, Mitt Romney trails all the leading Dems by double digits amd John Edwards by a (glass) jaw-dropping 18 points. It is clear that nominating Mitt will likewise result in a landslide, but not the kind Bob Jean has in mind. Then Hillary (or any Dem) can really say, "Now the fun part begins."
- bill olender, manchester, nh

I'm glad some sources (this paper, Des Moines Register, Boston Globe) are finally coming to their senses and taking John McCain seriously. McCain is the only candidate who has articulated any sort of detailed foreign policy. On spending issues, he is the true conservative...actually he is the "compassionate conservative" that voters thought they were getting in 2000 with George W. Bush. He is against abortion, against gay marriage, against earmarks (who else is even talking about them?). On spending issues, he has put his money where his mouth is in the Senate.

The refreshing thing about McCain is that he is willing to admit when he was wrong. You won't get that from the current administration...or from most of the other candidates for President. He has admitted that his solutions for campaign finance reform and immigration went too far.

Further, McCain is the only candidate who consistently ties or beats Hillary in poll after poll. Against Obama, his experience and gravitas would make him a heavy favorite. The other GOP candidates have major flaws that would be exposed like raw nerves in a general election contest.

He has shown time and again however to work with others in Congress to reach bipartisan solutions, something we will desperately need from the next Administration. We need to solve problems, not listen to endless demagoguery. John McCain is truly the purveyor of "Straight Talk." Give him another look.
- B. Fisher, Toluca Lake, CA

The Union Leader and the Boston Globe on the same page. Maybe the Globe knows that if elected, McCain will revert to his "maverick" form, while the UL seems to be putting an excessive amount of faith in the senator's leap year conversion to conservatism? This is a weak GOP field, but it's no reason to endorse the least reliable conservative voice within that field to lead the party this fall. Like the Bush tax cuts? McCain fought them as a boondoggle for the rich. Want to protect the borders? McCain wants to let more illegals come in and become citizens. Like your First Amendment rights? McCain led the most sweeping effort against them in history. McCain's been a star in the war on terror, but most of the Republican candidates have offered the same stance as he has on that subject. There are no great choices on our side this year, but there are several better than McCain, and his endorsement by El Globo cinches the case.
- Brian McGee, Nashua

Very persuasive.

Now tell me why I should trust one of the sponsers of the campaign finance reform law that so grossly curtails the free political speech of ordinary citizens while doing very little to actually shed light on the sources and amounts of campaign money?

An effective military leader with little respect for the Constitution is a frightening idea.
- Bob, Wilton

Obama's recent rise in the polls in spite of most people not knowing very much about him, and with his very limited experience, John McCain has the makings of landsliding against a ticket where Obama is on top.

Everyone knows what Hillary's electoral floor is. Some of the questions that have been raised about Obama this week makes it very clear that we don't know just how low Obama's electoral floor is.

Against someone like McCain, Obama'a floor could be much, much, lower than against any of the other Republican candidates.
- Bob Jean, Northwood, NH