May 10, 2008 6:30 pm US/Central
McCain Says He's Proud Of Environmental Record
Fresh off a New Jersey fundraiser that added more than $1 million to his campaign, Arizona Sen. John McCain promised to make environmental issues a focus of his presidency.
"There is no doubt our environment is globally challenged," McCain said during a visit to Liberty Science Center. "I'm proud of my environmental record."
Questioned by a reporter, McCain said he was "proud" of his environmental record.
Among the priorities he said he would have as president: Working toward a global climate change agreement that includes India and China.
New Jersey environmentalists immediately challenged McCain's record on the environment.
"His words say one thing, his record puts him in lockstep with the Bush administration and its dismantling of environmental programs," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
McCain was flanked by Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., who introduced him as "a conservative with a conscience" on the environment.
This was McCain's second visit to the Garden State in three months.
"New Jersey is in play," said state Sen. Bill Baroni, a longtime McCain supporter.
Monmouth University Polling Director Patrick Murray said it will be an uphill climb for McCain to take New Jersey in a year with considerable Republican backlash expected at the polls.
"Everything is lining up here for either Clinton or Obama," said Murray. "It's a Democratic year nationwide, and (New Jersey is) a Democratic state because of what's going on with the economy."
A recent Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll indicated that voters here preferred Obama to Clinton, and that either Democrat would beat McCain.
Nonetheless, McCain pulled in more than $1 million from a $1,000-a-plate private fundraiser on Thursday afternoon, fundraiser host Lawrence Bathgate said.
The event had been planned for Sandy Hook, a barrier peninsula at the Jersey Shore, but was moved indoors to Jersey City because of the weather.
As Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton continued to slug it out for the party's nomination this week, McCain maintained a moderate campaign schedule that included a mix of private fundraisers and public addresses in the Carolinas, Michigan, New York, New Jersey and Texas.
"(The Democratic battle has) given him some time to go around and give the kind of appearances he's going to give (in New Jersey)," said Kean. "It's easier to run for a while before you have a real opponent."
Murray, however, predicted that the natural advantage McCain is now enjoying will evaporate once the Democrats coalesce behind a nominee.
