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The camp of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) hoped to capitalize Wednesday on what it says was a biased report on CNN about a campaign event at which a McCain supporter referred to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) as “the bitch.” Rick Davis, McCain’s campaign manager, said in an e-mail to supporters that CNN owes the Arizona Republican an apology for its reporting of the story. The campaign laments that CNN portrayed the event as though McCain did not defend Clinton forcefully enough. The senator, in the short video clip, expressed his respect for the former first lady. “The CNN Network, affectionately known as the Clinton News Network, has stooped to an all-time low and is gratuitously attacking John McCain for not sufficiently defending Hillary Clinton enough when a South Carolina voter used the 'B' word to describe her when John McCain stopped into a luncheon yesterday at the Trinity restaurant in Hilton Head, S.C.,” Davis said in his e-mail. The McCain campaign manager portrayed the CNN report as an attempt by the liberal media to stop the surging Arizona Republican. “The liberal media has figured out that John McCain is the only thing that stands between a Hillary Clinton presidency, and they are therefore trying to stop the McCain comeback,” Davis said. “Simply put, CNN is scared that John McCain will beat Hillary Clinton. They are right to be scared.” The e-mail to supporters comes with a call to support the campaign financially. “We need your help,” Davis wrote. “We need you to stand with John McCain, a man of honor, integrity and love of country, against the liberal media and liberal blogosphere that are trying to bring him down.” Earlier Wednesday, McCain’s South Carolina campaign manager Buzz Jacobs had condemned the CNN report and anchor Rich Sanchez. “It is disappointing that Mr. Sanchez would choose to engage in sensationalism in the hopes of generating a story,” Jacobs said. “It not only reflects poorly on him, but on CNN. “If Mr. Sanchez had even the faintest perspective on the race for the White House, he would know that Sen. McCain has expressed his utmost respect for Sen. Clinton numerous times on the campaign trail, as he did at Monday’s event in Hilton Head,” Jacobs added. |
