McCain says he's best choice

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. — Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who is running for the presidency, came to Michigan on Thursday to tell Republicans that only he can provide the leadership to win the war in Iraq, stop pork-barrel spending and curb illegal immigration.

McCain, who said no one has complained more than him about the mishandling of the war, said the country has no choice but to win. If the United States loses in Iraq, he said, the forces working against the country there would seek to attack Americans at home.

"It's not Iraq that they want, it's us," McCain said.

McCain spoke to about 450 Republicans who paid $65 each to attend the annual Southeast Michigan Reagan Dinner in West Bloomfield. A $1,000-per-person private reception also was planned, with all of the evening's proceeds to be split between the 9th and 11th congressional districts' Republican candidates. Those districts cover most of Oakland and western Wayne County.

McCain's visit to the state comes at a crucial point in his candidacy. Michigan provided one of the highlights of his 2000 presidential campaign, when he upset then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

National polls show McCain trailing former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani by double-digit margins and McCain's early fund raising has disappointed him.

State Attorney General Mike Cox, chairman of McCain's Michigan campaign, said some of the restlessness among Republicans comes from McCain being a defined national figure.

McCain is alone among the Republican field with a reliably socially conservative record, Cox said.

"There's only one candidate who can meet all these tests, and that's John McCain."