In virtual town hall, McCain fields Pa. queries

Philadelphia Inquirer, The, August, 2008 by Larry Eichel Inquirer Senior Writer

Near the end of a virtual town-hall meeting last night with suburban Philadelphia voters, conducted by telephone, Republican presidential candidate John McCain got a question that went right to the heart of the matter. A woman who identified herself as Sally from Mortonville, Chester County, said she had once favored Democrat Barack Obama but was now confused about whom to vote for.

Make your case, she told McCain. The Arizona senator replied that the distinctions between himself and Obama basically came down to "how we view the role of government." He mentioned their differences on the Iraq war. Then he noted the likely vacancies to come on the U.S. Supreme Court and talked about appointing justices "who are qualified but also strictly interpret the Constitution." All that was good enough to close the deal, Sally said, and McCain thanked her once, then again as he signed off. "Every vote counts," ...