Discusses His Plans Now That He's No Longer Running for President (Interview)

SHOW: GOOD MORNING AMERICA (7:00 AM ET)
HEADLINE: SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN DISCUSSES HIS PLANS NOW THAT HE'S NO LONGER RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
ANCHORS: JACK FORD; ELIZABETH VARGAS

BODY:
JACK FORD, co-host: John McCain may no longer be a candidate, but he might still be a factor in the presidential race. There's an important dance going on now about when and how Senator McCain's will endorse the Texas governor. Some say that Senator McCain's support will be critical to Governor Bush's chances in November.

In his first morning television interview since withdrawing from the race, Senator McCain sat down with me on Capitol Hill yesterday. I began by asking him to describe what it was like when he realized that his fight for the presidency was over.

Senator JOHN McCAIN (Republican, Arizona): The first night of Super Tuesday, when it was obvious that the numbers wouldn't add up, I spent the night staring at the ceiling and allowed myself to wallow in some self-pity. But you know, Jack, I didn't feel badly because I lost. I mean, that wasn't astonishing because, of course, we had early polls and all this kinds of things. I felt rather badly because it was over. The excitement, the campaigning, the—the sheer enjoyment, the being able to talk to enthusiastic young people and connect them, that—that was—that—that frankly was the reason why I felt badly because it—it—it was at an end.

FORD: As observers are now looking back at your campaign and analyzing it, many are pointing to the speech you gave prior to the Virginia primary...

Sen. McCAIN: Mm-hmm.

FORD: ...where you criticized Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.

Sen. McCAIN: Mm-hmm.

FORD: And they're saying that was a serious mistake that hurt you badly among regular Republican voters.

Sen. McCAIN: Mm-hmm.

FORD: As you look back at it, do you think now that that was a mistake?

Sen. McCAIN: I think from a pure pragmatic standpoint, that—that it may have been. I'll leave that to the judgment of others. But I had to make that speech. The whole reason why I ran is to change the direction of the party. I have to—had to make it clear before the primary was over that I—that our party must reject the politics of division and the politics of exclusion as practiced by Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. That statement had to be made. And if it cost me votes or even the election, if I had to do over again, I would do exactly the same thing.

FORD: Why have you not come out and forcefully endorsed Governor Bush?

Sen. McCAIN: Well, primarily because I think that it's important that—for me to enthusiastically support Governor Bush, that we need to have some conversations. I just think we need to—to talk about the agenda, how the campaign's going to be conducted, what the priorities are, and hopefully, I'll be able to have an input, make recommendations—not demands—but make recommendations as to how best we can beat Al Gore.

I hold no rancor, no anger. Historians and others will judge this campaign as to how it was conducted. What I want to do is move forward in a positive fashion, and I clearly want to make sure that—that we elect our candidate to be president of the United States.

FORD: Governor Bush does not support your—your signature campaign reform proposals.

Sen. McCAIN: Mm-hmm.

FORD: Governor Bush has proposed much more significant tax cuts than you feel are appropriate. He ran a campaign that you were not happy with. Some have said he has mortgaged the soul of the Republican Party to the—the right-wing conservatives. If all of that is true, how, then, could you step forward and embrace him and support him?

Sen. McCAIN: I think there's a lot more common ground than there is differences between us. And what I'm hoping is that we can work those out, and on some issues, we will simply have to agree to disagree.

FORD: You have said a number of times you had no interest in running for the vice presidency. Are there any circumstances that would cause you to reconsider that position?

Sen. McCAIN: I cannot imagine any scenario where I would reconsider that position. And it's simply based on my assessment that I can best serve the country in the United States Senate, and being a senator who is chairman of a very important committee, and I think that's the best way I can help the country.

FORD: In the year 2004, will we see John McCain yet again as a presidential candidate?

Sen. McCAIN: Being a recovering presidential candidate, it's very hard for me to—to assess that.

FORD: A 12-step program for you to get involved in here?

Sen. McCAIN: I'm still only at step two.

FORD: Possibility, though?

Sen. McCAIN: I—I—I honestly can't contemplate that, Jack.

FORD: What would you like the legacy of the John McCain-for-president campaign to be?

Sen. McCAIN: I'd like the legacy to be that he succeeded to a significant degree in reconnecting millions of Americans to the political process and restored their faith or—and/or hope in a government that represents them. And, secondly, that he conducted an honorable campaign. Mistakes, yes. But he conducted an honorable campaign, which not only he but his children can be proud of.

FORD: Coming up on 20 minutes after 7 now. Everybody seems to be talking about the Oscars as we get closer to Sunday.