Russert to McCain: Is Bill Clinton trying to give you the 'kiss of death?'  Sen. John McCain bragged about "good momentum" during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, joked about getting "endorsed" by the husband of one of the top Democratic presidential contenders, and also took aim at one of his intraparty rivals, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
"On Iraq, Russert noted that Romney recently said McCain should apologize for suggesting he espoused specific timetables for withdrawing troops," NBC News reports. "McCain was ready with a response, though, pulling out a note card and reading what he said was a direct quote of Romney calling for 'a series of timetables and milestones' known by top officials but not the public and extremists on the ground in Iraq."
Russert also played some comments by former President Bill Clinton which referred to his wife's "close" relationship with the conservative Arizona senator (the unlikely pair once even engaged in a vodka drinking contest together), and jokingly characterized it as an "endorsement" of sorts.
"She and John McCain are very close," President Clinton said. "They always laughed that if they wound up being the nominees of their party, it would be the most civilized election in American history, and they're afraid they'd put the voters to sleep because they like and respect each other."
Russert asked McCain, "Do you accept the endorsement?"
A laughing McCain apparently forgot what high office Bill Clinton once held: "I thank Senator Clinton for his endorsement."
McCain continued, "Let me just say I will have a respectful debate whether it is Senator Obama or Senator Clinton or whoever it is, but it won't be boring, it won't be boring. We're going to be talking about more or less spending, higher or lower taxes; we're going to be talking about the role of government in health care, and we're going to be talking about the struggle we're in against radical Islamic extremism. It's going to be anything but boring."
"Is he being mischievous, trying to give you the kiss of death in the Republican primary?" Russert attempted to lead McCain.
McCain responded, "I don't know. I know that he is one of the most talented politicians that ever appeared on the American scene, and I only attribute to him the noblest of motives."
This video is from NBC's Meet the Press, broadcast January 27, 2008.
Excerpts from transcript:
MR. RUSSERT: Before you go, I want to show a tape of Bill Clinton, the former president, talking about you and Hillary Clinton. Let's watch?
PRES. BILL CLINTON (D-AR): (From videotape.) She and John McCain are very close. They always laughed that if they wound up being the nominees of their party, it would be the most civilized election in American history, and they're afraid they'd put the voters to sleep because they like and respect each other.
MR. RUSSERT: Do you accept the endorsement?
SEN. McCAIN: I thank Senator Clinton for his endorsement. Let me just say I will have a respectful debate whether it is Senator Obama or Senator Clinton or whoever it is, but it won't be boring, it won't be boring. We're going to be talking about more or less spending, higher or lower taxes; we're going to be talking about the role of government in health care, and we're going to be talking about the struggle we're in against radical Islamic extremism. It's going to be anything but boring.
MR. RUSSERT: Is he being mischievous, trying to give you the kiss of death in the Republican primary?
SEN. McCAIN: I don't know. I know that he is one of the most talented politicians that ever appeared on the American scene, and I only attribute to him the noblest of motives (laughs).
MR. RUSSERT: If you were the Republican nominee, and Hillary Clinton was the Democratic nominee, would you have to run against Bill and Hillary Clinton and how would you do it?
SEN. McCAIN: You know, I don't know, but I think it would be clearly a philosophical difference. But I haven't, frankly -- obviously, Senator Obama's win last night makes him very, very competitive. Senator Edwards is still in it -- active. Look, I've only won two primaries, Tim. I've got a pretty massive ego, but not quite so much as I'm planning on that yet.
MR. RUSSERT: If you don't win in Florida, what happens?
SEN. McCAIN: Oh, I think we have good polling numbers throughout the nation, and I think we go on. I think it's going to be a close race here on Tuesday, but I think we've got some good momentum. General Norman Schwartzkopf, our friend Mel Martinez, the senator from Florida, and Charles Crist --
MR. RUSSERT: So you go on after Tuesday, win or lose?
SEN. McCAIN: Oh, sure. Governor Crist and Senator Martinez, the two leading Republican politicians, are bound to give us a little bit of a boost.
MR. RUSSERT: Senator John McCain, as always, we thank you for sharing your views and be safe on the campaign trail.
SEN. McCAIN: Thanks for having me on again.
 
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