McCain: Nebraska not a gimme

STRATEGIC AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM — Sen. John McCain said Wednesday he’s not taking red-state Nebraska for granted, recognizing the competitive nature of its divided electoral votes.

“I consider every state in play,” the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said during an interview at a high-dollar fundraising event that garnered more than $700,000.

“I am very confident I can win here,” McCain said, “and we will compete here.”

Nebraska has not voted Democratic in a presidential race since 1964, but recent polls indicate that Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has moved within single digits of McCain in both the 1st Congressional District, which includes Lincoln, and metropolitan Omaha’s 2nd District.

Under Nebraska’s divided electoral vote system, the winner of each congressional district receives a presidential electoral vote.  The other two votes go to the statewide winner.

McCain said he believes Nebraskans ultimately will embrace his views on Iraq, energy and economic policy.

“I was willing to stake whatever political ambitions I had” on support for a surge of U.S. combat troops into Iraq at a time when that was not popular, he said.

The surge has been successful, he said.

“Violence is down and al-Qaida is on their heels, although not defeated.”

Obama opposed the surge, McCain said, “and still fails to acknowledge its success.”

McCain said he is aware of Nebraskans’ concerns about high gas prices and lagging development of domestic energy production, including alternative forms of energy.

His energy plan embraces increased domestic oil drilling offshore, nuclear power, alternative energy and alternative fuels, he said.

Earlier in the day, McCain said, he received a firsthand report on the impact of high fuel prices when he visited Werner Enterprises, an Omaha trucking firm.

“We need a gas tax holiday,” said McCain, who has proposed a summer suspension of federal gas taxes.

If gas taxes were suspended for a year, Werner executives told McCain, the company could save as much as $40 million in diesel fuel costs.

On other topics, McCain said Sen. Chuck Hagel remains “one of my dearest and best friends” despite his decisions not to endorse McCain and to associate himself with Obama by accompanying the presumptive Democratic nominee on a trip to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hagel had served as national co-chairman of McCain’s presidential campaign in 2000.

“Chuck and I have a disagreement on the war in Iraq,” McCain said. 

“I respect his views.  He’s an independent spirit. 

“Unlike Sen. Obama, Chuck has an informed opinion (as) a very experienced national security expert,” McCain said.

Later, Hagel’s office issued a statement expressing the Nebraska Republican’s “deepest respect and highest admiration for Sen. McCain built on many years of friendship.

“That will not change.  Their friendship transcends disagreements on policy.”

About 300 contributors attended a series of receptions at the aircraft museum along Interstate 80 near Ashland on Wednesday, according to Hal Daub of Omaha, chairman of McCain’s Nebraska campaign.

The money raised in Nebraska is targeted for McCain, the Republican National Committee and the GOP campaign in four swing states.

Some of the money will flow to Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico and Wisconsin.

Bob Caldwell of Lincoln, president and CEO of Hampton Enterprises, described Wednesday’s event as one of the most successful political fundraisers in the state’s history.

“I was just taken aback by the enthusiasm of the crowd,” he said, describing the event that was closed to the press.

“I think it will really provide momentum for John McCain. I think it shows Republicans are ready to work hard to elect him.”

Caldwell said McCain talked about “two things very dear to my heart: fiscal responsibility and the responsibility, judgment and experience required to lead our country.”

Gov. Dave Heineman and GOP Senate nominee Mike Johanns also addressed the crowd, Caldwell said.

During the interview conducted in a showroom full of military aircraft, McCain said the exhibits “remind me of some my dearest and best friends who were pilots” in the Vietnam war.

McCain was a naval aviator who was shot down and imprisoned for six years.

As the interview concluded, McCain asked about Tom Osborne.

“I love Tom,” he said.  “He’s one of the genuine Americans.

“I’m glad he’s back as athletic director.”

McCain supported Osborne’s bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2006. 

Osborne, whom McCain knew as Husker football coach before his election to the House of Representatives, lost that race to Heineman and is now University of Nebraska athletic director.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.