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McCain files signatures to qualify for ballot
Staff and agenciesBy JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press Writer Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press Writer – Fri May 21, 9:48 pm ET
"The message in the Republican primaries: No earmarking, no pork-barreling, stop the spending," McCain told reporters after turning in petition signatures to qualify for the Aug. 24 primary ballot in Arizona.
He said the senators who lost were all defenders of earmarks — special federal funding set aside for specific, home-state projects. McCain has long opposed earmarks, calling the process pork-barrel spending and saying it leads to corruption.
"Congressman Hayworth was one of the big earmarkers and pork barrelers," McCain said. "I‘m on the side of the American people who want this kind of corruption stopped."
Voters this week rejected Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and forced Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln into a runoff in Arkansas.
McCain also defended Arizona‘s tough crackdown on illegal immigration and lashed out at President Barack Obama for criticizing it.
Arizona‘s law requires police officers enforcing another law to investigate people‘s immigration status if there‘s reasonable suspicion they‘re in the country illegally. Obama called the measure "misdirected."
McCain shook up his campaign last week, moving two senior operatives to an outside fundraising committee.
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