SAN DIEGO, Calif.–John McCain just touched down in San Diego for a last minute rally. With polls showing the race in California tight, McCain is speaking to a few hundred supporters here, a move that doesn’t seem aimed at wooing undecided voters as much as getting prime placement on the local news just as voting closes tonight.
McCain has spent much of Super Tuesday on a plane. He took off from Newark airport just outside New York City just about six hours ago, but he and his entourage have not been entirely out of touch with what’s happening today. His campaign chartered a plane from Jet Blue, which has Direct TV at every seat.
McCain’s aides have been closely monitoring cable TV coverage of the campaign all day. In fact, when word broke that Mike Huckabee had won the West Virginia Republican presidential caucus–a contest that Mitt Romney had hoped to win–several McCain aides threw their hands in the air and shouted in delight, clearly pleased that the Arkansas governor had played spoiler.
From here, McCain heads home to Phoenix, where he will monitor election results. Aides have cautioned that it will be a long night. McCain isn’t expected to go before the cameras until at least 11pm EST. Asked on the plane what themes the senator might highlight tonight, win or lose, Mark Salter, McCain’s longtime aide and chief speechwriter, shrugged. “I really have no idea,” he admitted.
