Protesters yelled through bullhorns and played the bagpipes loudly in the background when Sen. John McCain said Saturday that he did not support setting a pullout date for the American military at a Tempe City Hall rally.
Approximately 350 people showed up - about 100 of them protesters - to hear the Arizona Republican speak at the conclusion of his presidential announcement tour.
"I believe the consequences of failure are catastrophic," McCain said about the war in Iraq. "I believe if you set a date for withdrawal you set a date for surrender. And we cannot do it."
But McCain did say there has been some "mismanagement" on the government's behalf.
Still, the war in Iraq can be won, he added.
"The fact is that we have a new general and we've got a new strategy, and I believe that strategy ought to be given a chance to succeed," he said.
McCain said that government spending was out of hand.
"The first pork barrel bill that comes across my desk, I will veto it, and I will make the authors of it famous, and I promise you, I will get spending under control," he said.
McCain said corruption was the result of spending, and the government needs to "regain the confidence of American people."
"There are members of Congress in jail today because of that, there are members of Congress under investigation, and the FBI is raiding people's offices," he added.
Protesters at the rally screamed, "Americans die because McCain lied," loudly as people left the speech.
Ellen Lopez of Phoenix stood behind a barricade chanting with the other protesters as McCain shook the hands of supporters.
"This war is an endless war ,and we want peace," Lopez said. "McCain and Bush are liars; McCain doesn't vote for me."
Lauren Lippmann of Mesa said she came to hear what McCain had to say even though she doesn't agree with him.
She said she is confident he will not be the next president. "There is no chance in hell he'll make it," Lippmann said.
Lippmann said she supports Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., because he has "outstanding values, and he is everything Bush is not."
Volunteers helped set up and run the event including political science senior Steffen Lewis.
Lewis supports McCain because he is an "authentic, real leader who has courage," he said. "I wouldn't be standing here in 100-degree weather if I didn't believe that."
McCain also made note of the part of the country he is representing.
"I am from the West, and this is the most dynamic part of America, he said. "And I'm the only one running that understands that this dynamic part of America is the future of America, and I'm proud to represent part of it."
Reach the reporter at: heather.cutler@asu.edu.
