McCain Delivers Counterattack by Air
WOODRUFF: In New Hampshire, Senator John McCain's lead over Governor George Bush has practically disappeared, according to our poll of likely Republican primary voters. McCain has 39 percent, Bush 37 percent. McCain led by four points in the same poll a month ago. However, those same New Hampshire voters say they believe Bush is more electable. Seventy-eight say they believe he can win in November, while 57 percent say McCain can beat the Democratic nominee. McCain is attempting to undercut Bush's support by releasing a new ad in New Hampshire. Meanwhile, the Arizona senator has moved a step ahead on the campaign trail, stumping in what he sees as the next critical primary state. Charles Zewe reports from South Carolina.</s>CHARLES ZEWE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Arizona senator, who considers winning South Carolina critical to his insurgent campaign, pressed into the Palmetto State with an appeal to conservatives and the state's large veterans community.</s>MCCAIN: We must take care of these brave warriors.</s>ZEWE: He also repeatedly pledged not to attack fellow Republicans.</s>MCCAIN: I will not say anything negative about the other candidates.</s>ZEWE: On New Hampshire TV, however, the candidate addressed his chief rival with his toughest ad yet. (</s>BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, MCCAIN CAMPAIGN AD) MCCAIN: I guess it was bound to happen. Now my opponent has started the political attacks after promising he wouldn't.</s>ZEWE: McCain struck out at Texas Governor George W. Bush, accusing him of breaking his promise to steer clear of negative campaigning. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, MCCAIN CAMPAIGN AD)</s>MCCAIN: Mr. Bush's attacks are wrong. My plan cuts taxes, secures Social Security and pays down the debt.</s>ZEWE: It's a response claims that Bush has made in an ad that ran this week in New Hampshire. That ad says McCain's tax plan would close several tax loopholes, resulting in a $40 billion tax increase on workers. McCain said he had to defend himself against Bush's charges, but he bristled at the notion that he may be doing exactly what he's criticizes his opponent of doing.</s>MCCAIN: It was a direct response to an ad that he's been running that alleges that I'm trying to raise taxes by some $40 billion. That is not true. And everybody knows that's not true. So I have to tell people when he's running an ad saying that I'm raises taxes by $40 billion, that I'm not.</s>ZEWE (on camera): Since entering the race, McCain's support among South Carolina Republicans has grown slightly, but he still trails Bush substantially, and the primary is less than a month away now. The Palmetto poll, taken by Clemson University of likely Republican voters shows Bush with a 51 to 29 percent lead over McCain. Analysts say that despite McCain's efforts here, figures indicate voters have made up their minds to support Bush. Charles Zewe, CNN, Greenville, South Carolina.</s>SHAW: Bush did not let McCain's New Hampshire ad go unanswered. Our Candy Crowley has the candidate's reaction from the stump here in Iowa.</s>CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On a street corner in Grinnell, Iowa, George Bush stood in the frigid cold, discussing the heat rising in New Hampshire.</s>GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: But this is politics. You know, that's -- I find it to be amusing and -- that when there's an honest disagreement about what the definition of employer benefits mean, that there's kind of resort to name calling.</s>CROWLEY: This is really just another chapter in a week-long saga, which began when Bush said John McCain's tax cut plan actually raises some taxes. It is a kind of "so's your mother" argument. McCain says Bush has gone negative. Denied, and back at you.</s>BUSH: He can say anything he wants. Evidently, he is running an ad that says, you know, that I spend all the surplus, and I don't have any money left for Social Security. That's completely inaccurate.</s>CROWLEY: Mostly, though, Bush's attention is not on ads in New Hampshire, but votes in Iowa. It is town-to-town, nonstop retail campaigning, using shoe leather and his standard campaign speech. Veering a bit off the beaten path, Bush spent the morning sitting in the basement of a faith-based residential center for troubled and addicted lives.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was a victim, not a victim, but I was in prison -- I was a prisoner of drugs and alcohol. They had me. I didn't control them; they controlled me. And until I got here and God was able to open up my mind and show me that, hey, you've been believing things that just are not right, you need to change the way you think and then the way you act will be a natural process of that.</s>CROWLEY: Teen Challenge takes no government money. It's rehab services are free. Its success rate is high.</s>BUSH: If there was a voucher attached to a person that was seeking help, would you accept the voucher? He said yes. Under one condition: no strings. And I agree with that concept as well.</s>CROWLEY (on camera): There is no interest here in breaking any new ground. The sense you get is that of a holding pattern. What the Bush camp most wants is an uneventful though active couple of days, so that Monday, the candidate can bring home that double-digit lead indicated in Iowa polls. Candy Crowley, CNN, Marshalltown, Iowa.</s>SHAW: During Bush's walking tour of downtown Brunell, Iowa, he made a stop at a coffee shop. Waiting inside were several Bill Bradley supporters, who were there to write letters in favor of their candidate. The Republican hopeful spent a few minutes talking with the college students, long enough to make a good impression on at least one of the Democrats.</s>CELIA SEARS, STUDENT: I thought Bush was much more personable one on one. After meeting with them, I'd say go Bush. But after reading all of their policies, I'm for Bradley. So I think that it's definitely confusing when you meet them. It's two different things. It's like their person approach and then their policies don't often match.</s>SHAW: Not all of the Bradley supporters were as impressed. Another student talked with Bush about civil disobedience, and said he was not satisfied with the governor's answers.</s>WOODRUFF: When we return: Has retail politics fallen by the wayside in New Hampshire? Our Bill Bradley on how the hopefuls are reaching Granite State voters.