Presidential hopeful John McCain said Monday he doesn't hold grudges and indicated he would accept campaign help from Karl Rove, the architect of then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush's 2000 triumph that dashed McCain's presidential hopes seven years ago.
McCain won the New Hampshire Republican primary in 2000, but was derailed in South Carolina, in part by Bush allies who used direct mail, phone calls and other below-the-radar tactics to smear McCain's reputation.
At a Rotarian meeting at a Nashua, N.H., country club, McCain was asked if, despite what happened in 2000, "if you knew that Karl Rove could win the election for you, would you have him on your campaign?"
McCain started his 2 1/2-minute answer by saying that he doesn't hold grudges.
"I think the important thing in our lives, and I mean this with the utmost sincerity, is to put differences, real or imagined, behind us," the Arizona senator said.
"I did that with the anti-war movement after the Vietnam War. I did that in the 1980s with the people who did not want us to normalize relations with Vietnam. I did it with previous political opponents of mine."
"I think one the great problems in the political environment in America today is that we dwell on insults and we question each other's patriotism and love of country," he said.
He took the opportunity to throw in an applause line on a theme he's been focusing on in recent days — Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"I'm going to treat Senator Clinton with respect," he said, "when I beat her in the next election."
McCain wrapped up without mentioning Rove, the former Bush adviser, by name.
"I would welcome the support of any American who wants to support my campaign who shares my values and my visions and my beliefs for a greater America. And that includes Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and vegetarians," McCain said.
McCain won the New Hampshire Republican primary in 2000, but was derailed in South Carolina, in part by Bush allies who used direct mail, phone calls and other below-the-radar tactics to smear McCain's reputation.
At a Rotarian meeting at a Nashua, N.H., country club, McCain was asked if, despite what happened in 2000, "if you knew that Karl Rove could win the election for you, would you have him on your campaign?"
McCain started his 2 1/2-minute answer by saying that he doesn't hold grudges.
"I think the important thing in our lives, and I mean this with the utmost sincerity, is to put differences, real or imagined, behind us," the Arizona senator said.
"I did that with the anti-war movement after the Vietnam War. I did that in the 1980s with the people who did not want us to normalize relations with Vietnam. I did it with previous political opponents of mine."
"I think one the great problems in the political environment in America today is that we dwell on insults and we question each other's patriotism and love of country," he said.
He took the opportunity to throw in an applause line on a theme he's been focusing on in recent days — Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"I'm going to treat Senator Clinton with respect," he said, "when I beat her in the next election."
McCain wrapped up without mentioning Rove, the former Bush adviser, by name.
"I would welcome the support of any American who wants to support my campaign who shares my values and my visions and my beliefs for a greater America. And that includes Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and vegetarians," McCain said.
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