McCain bows out of presidential race

Friday, March 10th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SEDONA, Ariz. - Republican John McCain pulled out of the presidential race Thursday, leaving history to decide whether his burst of popularity reflected a heroic life story or more support for government reform.

"I will take our crusade back to the United States Senate, and I will keep fighting to save the government, to give the government back to the people," Mr. McCain said, standing before a spectacular vista of red rock mountains.

The self-styled rebel congratulated but did not formally endorse presumptive Republican nominee George W. Bush.

"He may very well become the next president of the United States," Mr. McCain said of his rival. "That is an honor accorded to very few, and is such a great responsibility that he deserves the best wishes of every American. He certainly has mine."

Democrat Bill Bradley also abandoned his presidential bid Thursday and said he would support Al Gore, but he accused the vice president of "distortions" in their primary fight.
Mr. Bush, campaigning in Colorado, told reporters that he talked to Mr. McCain briefly by telephone but did not ask for his endorsement. "John needs some time to think, and I need some time," Mr. Bush said. "I believe that when it's all said and done, we can have a good dialogue."

Mr. McCain - having evolved from a lesser-known Arizona senator to a serious White House contender - said his campaign "ignited the cause of reform," particularly for changes in political fund raising.

With his wife, Cindy, at his side, Mr. McCain vowed to "keep trying to force open doors where there are walls to your full participation in the great enterprises of our democracy."

He also ruled out bolting the GOP to run as a third-party candidate. "I love my party. It is my home," he said.

Because Mr. McCain technically "suspended" his campaign, he remains eligible for federal matching funds and can retain the 225 or so convention delegates he has won.

"We'll put forward ideas [at the convention] we think will be helpful . . . in winning the election," said adviser Rick Davis.

Political positioning

Mr. Bush and presumptive Democratic nominee Al Gore are already making pitches for McCain voters. And that's not lost on the former contender as he pursues his agenda through other means, aides said.

"He has a lot of weapons in his arsenal," said John Raidt, the McCain campaign's policy adviser. "John McCain voters could well determine the outcome of this election."
Mr. McCain drew heavily from Democrats and independents, and polls in Tuesday's multistate primaries found that 40 percent of McCain voters said they would switch to Mr. Gore in the fall election.

In California, where candidates were ranked by all voters on a single ballot, Mr. McCain finished third overall to Mr. Gore and Mr. Bush, but he was the most popular among independents.

Some analysts said Mr. McCain owed his seven primary wins mainly to biography, rather than to the issues he was pushing. The Navy flier survived 5 1/2 years of torture in Vietnam as a prisoner of war.

"I think it was more people wanting to back a hero," analyst Charles Cook said. "They supported somebody with a compelling life story - I think it was that, more than campaign finance reform."

In the end, aides said, Mr. McCain could not overcome Mr. Bush's more conservative appeal to core Republicans, along with the Texas governor's financial and organizational advantages.

Mr. McCain pulled out after losing major primaries Tuesday in California, New York and Ohio. That ended the bare-knuckled fight with Mr. Bush, the wounds of which have yet to heal.

In the McCain-Bush telephone call, the two did not discuss the vice presidency, a job in which Mr. McCain has said he has no interest, according to Mr. Davis.

Before making his announcement, Mr. McCain called his congressional supporters Wednesday to tell them the news. One of them, Rep. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said top McCain strategists and congressional supporters will meet next week to discuss the senator's options.

"John knows he can be helpful. He becomes a force if he can get involved in the campaign with passion," Mr. Graham said. "Our goal is not just to get John to say, 'I'll vote for Bush.' Our goal is to get John and people like John involved with passion because then we've got a chance to keep the independents."

Running mate's role

Mr. Graham said it is important for Mr. Bush to pick a running mate who could help galvanize the party and emphasize themes like campaign-finance reform and paying down the debt, both hallmarks of the McCain campaign.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., national co-chairman of McCain's campaign and one of just four Republican senators to back him, said: "George Bush can't win without McCain. He has an appeal we haven't seen since Bobby Kennedy."

Mr. McCain has called for smaller tax cuts than Mr. Bush has proposed to preserve Social Security and Medicare.

He exploded onto the presidential scene with a drubbing of Mr. Bush in the Feb. 1 New Hampshire primary.

He tried to capitalize on that in South Carolina but lost the Feb. 19 primary to Mr. Bush after a brutish campaign. Three days later, he rallied with a surprise triumph in Michigan, again with the help of independents and Democrats.
He was unable to translate that victory into support in Tuesday's major primaries, most of which were open to Republicans only. McCain aides also blamed Bush tactics, particularly the airing of $2.5 million in TV ads by benefactors whom Mr. McCain called "sleazy cronies" of the governor.

McCain aides also said they may have made a mistake when their candidate said Mr. Bush "twists the truth" like President Clinton. That allowed Mr. Bush to charge Mr. McCain with being a hypocritical negative campaigner.
During his campaign, Mr. McCain denounced Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, saying the two religious leaders were dragging the party out of the mainstream.

Some analysts said that speech cost the candidate votes among social conservatives.

Staff writer Catalina Camia in Washington contributed to this report.