NEW YORK — John McCain tried to make amends with David Letterman on Thursday, telling the late-night comedian that he “screwed up” when he stood him up in September to focus on the economic crisis.
Mccain’s appearance on “The Late Show,” his 13th time on the CBS program, came after Letterman mocked him for three weeks and suggested his decision to suspend his campaign because of the Wall Street meltdown was merely a political maneuver.
The Republican presidential nominee took precautions to ensure that he made Thursday’s visit, traveling by helicopter from Philadelphia to skirt a weather delay, fearful that another cancellation would further inflame the host.
When the candidate walked onto the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater, he pretended to cower in fear as Letterman strode over to greet him.
“Can you stay?” the comedian asked, as McCain settled in his chair.
“Yes, sir,” responded McCain. He then added with a wary grin, “Depends on how bad it gets.” The Arizona senator said he had asked his son, who is in the Marine Corps, to FedEx him his helmet and flak jacket for the occasion, “but it didn’t get here on time.” McCain had reason to be nervous. He was scheduled to make an appearance Sept. 24 on “Late Show” but canceled at the last minute.
At the time, he told the comedian that he was catching a plane to return to Washington to deal with the burgeoning financial crisis.
But Letterman was steamed to discover that McCain remained in New York another day. Instead of visiting the “Late Show” studio that afternoon, the GOP presidential hopeful made a stop at CBS News several blocks away for an interview with anchor Katie Couric.
The incident ruptured a long-amiable relationship between the two men, who at one time had been so friendly that McCain chose Letterman’s show as the forum to announce his 2008 presidential bid.
But Letterman appeared offended by McCain’s behavior.
And he wasted no time in confronting his guest at Thursday’s taping.
“Now what exactly happened?” he asked McCain. “I got to think, well, maybe I’m just not important enough.” “I screwed up,” responded the senator. He shrugged his hands, adding: “But look at all the conversation I gave you.” “Well, I’m willing to put this behind us,” Letterman said.
The candidate appeared relieved. “Thank you. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Thank you,” he said.
Still, Letterman wasn’t ready to let him off the hook.
“I want your friend Sarah Palin here,” he said. “And if you’re in the White House, I want to be the guy who sits in the outer office, reading magazines.” “Is this a shakedown or a ransom?” asked McCain with a chuckle.
The tone then turned serious, with Letterman spending most of the 20-minute conversation pressing McCain about his choice of a running mate, the tone of his campaign and his attacks on Democratic rival Barack Obama.
Despite the pounding he received, McCain appeared determined to return to Letterman’s program, hoping to smooth things over. When his campaign plane was delayed for two hours at the Philadelphia airport, an aide announced that McCain had chartered a helicopter to get to New York, saying it was important for him to be there on time.
Steve Duprey, McCain’s close friend and frequent traveling companion, said McCain wanted to keep his commitment.
“We moved heaven and earth for Mr. Letterman,” Duprey joked to reporters after they watched McCain disappear into the Philadelphia sky. “I thought we should call him up and say, ‘Dave, we have a problem’ … and send a (McCain) cut-out over.”
