Ky. Sen. McConnell touts McCain's military past

By BRUCE SCHREINER

Published September 3, 2008 at 5:16 p.m.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) _ Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell played up John McCain's military past and touted his credentials for the presidency, telling the Republican National Convention on Wednesday that McCain would take the same character to the White House that he showed as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

McConnell, the Senate's top-ranking Republican, also praised McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, saying she "will make a remarkable vice president."

In his short speech, McConnell traced McCain's long family heritage of military service and emphasized the Arizona senator's captivity during the Vietnam War.

"Those heroic deeds are not the only reason to vote for John McCain," McConnell said. "But they tell us important things about the man. Because when the crowds fall silent, and the teleprompters are rolled away, what is left is character, proven character."

As a POW, McCain refused his captors' offer of early release and eventually returned home from his 5½ years of captivity on crutches and unable to lift his arms.

"They say that the measure of a man is what he does when none are looking," McConnell said. "And in nearly six years of anguish, John McCain kept faith with his fellow prisoners. He honored the code. He put aside his own good for others. And I guarantee you this, he'll do the same as president."

McConnell, who is facing his toughest re-election fight in years, often mentions McCain on the campaign trail, though the two have differed on some key issues in the past — most notably campaign-finance reform.

McCain is heavily favored to carry Kentucky against Democratic opponent Barack Obama in November.

As for Palin, McConnell said the first-term Alaska governor and former small-town mayor has a record that "the American people have already come to respect and admire."

Since her selection as McCain's running mate, Palin has come under intense scrutiny.

The disclosures included the pregnancy of her unmarried 17-year-old daughter and that a private attorney is authorized to spend $95,000 of state money to defend her against accusations of abuse of power.

McConnell had been scheduled to speak on the opening night of the GOP convention, but his time at the podium was scratched because of Hurricane Gustav.

McConnell is being challenged this fall by Democrat Bruce Lunsford, a wealthy businessman.

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Ky. Sen. McConnell touts McCain's military past