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Sunday, Jun. 29, 2008

McCain praised by old adversary

LOUISVILLE — Putting old differences behind them, U.S. Sens. John McCain and Mitch McConnell buddied it up Saturday evening in Louisville at a record-setting fund-raiser.

About 650 of Kentucky's most influential Republicans — and a few Democrats — attended the $1,000 per plate event at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Organizers said the total raised was $2 million.

This was the first time McConnell — who is up for re-election this fall — and McCain, the likely Republican presidential nominee, have campaigned together in Kentucky, said the event's chairman J. Scott Jennings, a Republican strategist for Peritus Public Relations.

Jennings said that is the most money ever raised at a presidential-level fund-raiser in Kentucky.

The $2 million will be divided among the Republican National Committee, John McCain's campaign fund and the Kentucky Republican Party.

In the first few minutes of their respective speeches, McConnell and McCain both owned up to past disagreements.

”The Washington press corps would have you think we've been in a lot of fights over the years, and they're right,“ McConnell said, ”Nobody plays harder than John McCain.“

McCain, who represents Arizona, has the reputation of a maverick in the Senate and said he admired McConnell's resolve.

”Can I say how much I appreciate his leadership, steadfastness and courage,“ McCain said, ”and frankly, the very tough job Sen. Mitch McConnell has in D.C.? ... It's awfully easy to say "OK, we'll agree.'“

Of their many clashes, the most notable is over the 2002 McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, designed to restrict ”soft money“ contributions from corporations, unions and the rich. McConnell, calling the act ”stunningly stupid,“ challenged that law all the way to the Supreme Court but ultimately lost.

However, on Saturday night the two rivals had unquestionably joined forces.

”I've known John McCain for a long time, and I've been his friend for a long time,“ said McConnell, who faces Democratic challenger Bruce Lunsford in November.

Both McCain and McConnell spent time tackling the issue of rising gas prices.

McConnell spent much of his speech touting McCain's superiority over Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

”His opponent has never met a tax he wouldn't raise or a barrier to fair trade he wouldn't raise,“ McConnell said. ”Americans will see they have a clear choice in ending our dependence on foreign oil.“

McCain acknowledged that the United States has seen better days but outlined an optimistic plan for getting past the high oil prices.

”I believe we can become energy independent,“ he said.

He said he wants to encourage research in manufacturing cheaper electric cars, alternative fuel methods and clean coal technology.

”I don't have to tell anybody in this state that coal is an important factor in the future of our needs,“ he said.