McCain to stop at BCC's Pemberton campus by David Levinsky

Source: http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-06112008-1547417.html

June 11, 2008 7:53 AM
Burlington County Times

Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, is scheduled to bring his so-called “Straight Talk Express” campaign to Burlington County on Friday.

The Arizona senator and former Vietnam prisoner of war will appear at a town hall meeting at Burlington County College's Pemberton campus.

The event will be held in the college's physical education building and will be open to the public. Doors open at 10 a.m. A campaign spokesman McCain would deliver a short speech and then hold a lengthy question-and-answer session with the audience.

“He wants to talk about the issues Burlington County wants to talk about,” said Bill Stepien, regional campaign manager for the McCain campaign.

Although attendees are encouraged to RSVP on the McCain campaign Web site http://www.johnmccain.com/, Stepien stressed that doing so is not mandatory and that the event is open to all.

“The senator has a longstanding policy to keep events like this open,” Stepien said. “He'll absolutely take all types of questions. Tough questions, difficult questions, he'll answer them all. Everyone's encouraged to come out. We want as many people as possible to be able to participate.”

New Jersey has voted solidly Democratic in presidential elections since 1988, but Republicans believe McCain's popularity with independents and moderates makes the state firmly in play in November.

Friday's visit will the third by McCain to New Jersey this year. The GOP candidate appeared in Lakewood and Jersey City last month and at a rally in Hamilton, Mercer County, in January.

“He's been campaigning here (in New Jersey) and he's been campaigning often,” Stepien said. “He's here to win the state.”

The latest poll of New Jersey voters still gives presumptive Democratic nominee Illinois Sen. Barack Obama the edge. Released Monday, the poll by Rasmussen Reports, found 48 percent of likely New Jersey voters favor Obama compared to 39 percent for McCain, with 6 percent favoring third-party candidates and the rest undecided.

Rutgers political science professor Ingrid Reed recalled that President George W. Bush visited Burlington County during his re-election campaign in 2004 as did Vice President Dick Cheney.

“Hey, if you're in the neighborhood why not stop in and campaign in New Jersey. Bush did in 2004 and he was at least able to narrow the margin, plus Burlington County is a good place for rallying Republicans,” Reed said, noting that the county's location would likely attract media from both Philadelphia and New York City markets.

She said an additional benefit would be to boost the campaign of 3rd district GOP Congressional nominee Chris Myers.

“Burlington and Ocean just went through bruising primaries, so this could be something that can bring Republicans together,” she said. “It's a good way to mend fences.”

Myers' campaign confirmed yesterday that he will attend and participate in the event with McCain.

“Chris (Myers) and Senator McCain share a lot in common. They're both Navy veterans who have a history in their lives of putting public service first,” said Chris Russell, Myers campaign manager. “Chris is excited to be a part of the program Friday and having the senator at the top of the ticket.”

Burlington County Republican Committee Chairman Bill Layton said Republicans across the county are excited about the visit by McCain, both because of his status as GOP standard bearer as well as his standing as a former prisoner of war and war hero.

“There are a vast number of veterans living in Burlington County who have fought for this country and look at this guy as one of them,” Layton said. “He's a hero who at the end of the day almost gave his life for his country. Whether you're Republican or Democrat, you have to respect that.”

E-mail: dlevinsky@phillyBurbs.com