AURORA — Republican presidential candidate John McCain played up his maverick image today, saying he wasn’t beholden to any party or special interest and was the only candidate who could bring change to Washington, D.C.
McCain, in the Denver-area for the second time in less than a week, also noted the importance of Colorado’s status as a swing state in November,
“I have to compete here. I have to win here if I’m going to be the next president of the United States,” he said.
McCain, an Arizona senator, also touted his conservative credentials, saying he supports smaller government, off-shore drilling and securing the border to stem the tide of illegal immigrants.
“I don’t work for a party. I don’t work for a president. I don’t work for a special interest, and I don’t work for myself. I work you and for the country we love,” he said to about 300 employees at Wagner Equipment Co., which sells and leases Caterpillar machines.
He also made clear where he stood on taxes.
“I will not raise your taxes or support a tax increase,” he said, while also characterizing Democratic rival Barack Obama as a tax and spend liberal.
“Anything you can tax, he wants to tax more,” he said.
McCain’s tax-stance came into question over the weekend when he said, according to the Associated Press: “I don’t want tax increases. But that doesn’t mean that anything is off the table” when it comes to Social Security.
The conservative Club for Growth, an anti-tax group, then called on him to clarify the remark and rule out all tax hikes.
Earlier today, McCain met in a closed meeting with Archbishop Charles Chaput. The campaign would not provide further details.
He is expected to leave Denver later this afternoon.
