A prominent evangelical leader on Wednesday endorsed likely Republican presidential nominee John McCain as he tries to shore up his support among a powerful bloc that has responded tepidly to him so far.
The Rev. John Hagee, a televangelist and pastor of the 17,000-member Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, endorsed McCain at a news conference.
"John McCain is a man of principle," said Hagee, citing McCain's anti-abortion voting record and his support of Israel.
Hagee is a leader among Christian Zionists and has argued vigorously from the pulpit and in writing for Israel's right to settle disputed territories.
His endorsement of McCain follows grumbling among other conservative Christian leaders who have suggested possibly running a third-party candidate because of continuing discontent with McCain. Some hope that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist pastor, might still mount an improbable comeback.
But Hagee, who gave Huckabee his pulpit for a Sunday in December, said Wednesday he believes that if McCain emphasizes his support for Israel and his 24-year record against abortion, reluctant evangelical voters will be coaxed into the McCain camp.
Some conservative Christian leaders have been reluctant to back McCain because he supports relaxing restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research and has previously worked with Democrats on issues like a guest worker program for migrant workers.
In McCain's 2000 bid, he dismissed televangelists Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as "agents of intolerance." That rhetoric from the often blunt senator has been absent in this campaign.
Hagee said if McCain emphasizes his anti-abortion record and his support of Israel, evangelicals will "find enough common ground" to support him.
Huckabee has been campaigning heavily in Texas, hoping that a March 4 win in the delegate-rich state with a heavy faction of social conservatives could revive his campaign. He gained support from Dallas Cowboys legend Cliff Harris, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Huckabee campaign. The two share the same alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark.
Despite the endorsement, he is far behind McCain in recent polls of Texas voters and in the delegate count nationally.
McCain said he respects Huckabee's desire to stay in the race and has not considered a running mate as a result. But "I hope we can close it out on Tuesday night," he said at midday Wednesday meeting with employees of USAA, a financial services company for military personnel and retirees.
McCain took questions from employees on issues ranging from the economy to health care, and again, he reiterated his support for the war in Iraq.
When asked about his position on the touchy issue of the border fence, he tried to sidestep it, saying he hopes federal officials and Texas landowners can agree on where to put it.
McCain's first responded by joking, "This meeting is adjourned," when asked how he would balance the need for border security with individual property rights.
The Arizona senator then promised he would look into the issue, which has border landowners fearful the fence will cut through their property, blocking them from the only fresh water source in the area. Texas's border with Mexico is far more populated than the border areas in Arizona.
"It seems to me that borders are borders and there should be agreements between the landowners and the federal government (for the fencing). At the same time, there has to be these barriers to illegal immigrants coming across the border," he said.
McCain said overall, he believes the first priority is border security and that after the border is secure, temporary work permits for those who want to come to the United States should be granted.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments
If he can't come clean on his stand on marriage and birth, I may as well go democratic. I
think he needs to think it thru very carefully
And to you Huck fans, do you really believe Huckabee is the best the Evagelical Christian world can muster? If so count me even more happy to not be counted among you. Huckabee is a weak candidate.
citsonga - I'll grant you that Obama is intelligent and articulate. It isn't his abilities that worry me. It is his positions I have a serious problem with, as should any free-market conservative. He says "no one who works should be poor". Huh? really? See, in the world I live in, no one who works at a vlued skill IS poor. I've never met a poor doctor. I've never met a poor college professor. gain a valuable skill and you'll never bo poor. If you are poor, you're skills aren't valuable. It's that simple. But for Obama to try and subvert reality shows us his true colors. He's a socialist.
Huickabee still lacks the delgates of Romney. Mitt could rejoin after a feww weeks off and be ahead of Huck. That's pathetic. Huck jumped the shark long ago. Conservative need to get behing McCain or live through four years of Obama's bizarro world policies, where reality is suspended in favor of lollipops and rainbows.
Huck states he wants to amend the US constitution to make it a more "christian nation" huck has no chance after making statements like that. The vast majority of Americans are not interested in the establishment of a theocratic "Christian States of America"
.......Go OBAMA
profX "we will be living in the age of antichrist right smack through the tribulation to the horror of many "
Yeah, they were saying the same thing about JFK. Whenever an intelligent, articulate leader comes around the world, Christians bring up the mythical antichrist. Good luck with that professor
Truly, truly I say unto you, if Mike Huckabee's voice is not heard somewhere in the white house, Barak Hussein Obama will be the next president of the United States. (period) And thus we will be living in the age of antichrist right smack through the tribulation to the horror of many and especially to the horror of John Hagee.
Truly truly I say unto you. If Mike Huckabee's voice is not heard somewhere in the white house, Barak Hussein Obama will be the next president of the United States. (period) And thus we will be living in the age of antichrist right smack through the tribulation to the horror of many.
You know what? I am so displeased with the republican party right now about how they have not paid closer attention to Mike Huckabee's Campaign and strategic plan to help this country that I by conviction must vote for Mike Huckabee as my write-in candidate if he is at the very least not selected as McCains running mate. Mow our nation is headed either to more war or socialism all because we have allowed the arrogant media and political masons to cherry pick the variour nominees of the two largest political parties. Meanwhile, various interest groups who once detested McCain are now jocking for position to be his "lap dog." I have always liked John McCain and never had anything bad to say about him. But I like Mike Huckabee a bit better. Texas and Ohio just vote for Mike Huckabee just this one time.
Please do not promote Hagee as an evangelical. He is passionate. He is pro-Israel. He is whatever. But he is not evangelical. To lump him in with evangelicals both is uninformed and misleading. Many evangelical leaders would never share a platform with the dude and consider him to be heretical in some of his teachings. Don't lose readers by not knowing your stuff.
RBB "Since you know nothing about me, or my views (I have expressed none, only tried to answer your questions) perhaps you could tell me in what way I have shown hatred."
I was mocking you. You are the one that started the character attack with "How sad that you can't see past your hate" I would like to know from you where I express hate.
you stated "You on the other hand have been quite venomous and nasty about Christians and about a president that you evidently know little about. "
I have not, I do say I generally disagree with christians (and other religions) and at times I do go on the attack when I am told that I am inferior because I am an agnostic and not a christian and that me and my family are going to the an eternal torture because we dont "beleive" the right stuff. As far as bush is concerned, I know plenty about him as do the majority of Americans (at long last). Majority of Ameircans and I see that he has been a disaster as prez, he is arrogant and ignorant- his record shows that.
you stated "Making false accusations against me isn't going to change any of that. It will however keep me from reading or responding further. "
remember, you are the one that started the personal attack, I was simply mocking you......
citsonga - Since you know nothing about me, or my views (I have expressed none, only tried to answer your questions) perhaps you could tell me in what way I have shown hatred. I simply asked you to give reasons to vote for Obama. You on the other hand have been quite venomous and nasty about Christians, and about a president that you evidently know little about. It isn't my fault that you can't name even one reason for voting for Obama, one thing that he's accomplished, or any atheist-based charities. Making false accusations against me isn't going to change any of that. It will however keep me from reading or responding further.
thoughtful in washington "We Conservatives ought not to let others tell us what to do. We should join forces behind Huckabee and make sure McCain does not garner the 1191 delegates needed to win."
Its a bit late for that, mccain will be the nominee but not to worry, Sen Obama will be the next president.
How sad that the evangelical leaders are backing someone whose history, language, and life do not support Conservative Republican Christians. As the article says, McCain has called evangelicals "agents of intollerance." This was referring to Pat Robertson who has also come out in support of McCain. It is quite obvious that these so-called leaders are more concerned about the Party than their Faith. A truly sad commentary.
All the endorsements in the world will not help the true conservatives vote for McCain. Those of us who vote for principles just can't do that. If the "presumptive" candidate wins, you can predict that the Democrats will take over in November. I will not vote for McCain out of fear. I vote to match my beliefs. And I am sure I am not alone.
As opposed to McCain who has to "look into" what to do about our borders, Mike Huckabee has a strong, firm, plan that is as kind as possible. Have we forgotten that just last summer all the conservative talk shows were going crazy about the immigration bill that McCain helped write and supported. It was amnesty for 12 to 20 million people. Think of what that will do to Social Security and our welfare rolls. Please don't think McCain has changed his mind. Now these conservatives are trying to put him into the White House.
We Conservatives ought not to let others tell us what to do. We should join forces behind Huckabee and make sure McCain does not garner the 1191 delegates needed to win.
RBB "citsonga - "How sad that you can't see past your hate, you have my sympathy."
right back at you jack, no more hate than you have shown, you have my sympathy too.
1man "concerning Hagee.. I was referring to having to deal with people...in any given field this would be difficult"
sure, I agree with that. Fact of the matter though hagee is made a real nice business for himself peddling religion.