Schilling jumps aboard McCain's GOP bandwagon

Nashua Telegraph
By RYAN J. HALLIDAY Telegraph Staff
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071204/NEWS01/312040059&template=printart

Schilling jumps aboard McCain's GOP bandwagon

Red Sox hurler Curt Schilling is hopping aboard the Straight Talk Express to make his pitch for Sen. John McCain's bid for the White House.

During a telephone interview Monday, the politically outspoken World Series hero told The Telegraph he's supporting McCain's presidential campaign because the Arizona Republican is "a man of principal, honor, respect, and loyalty."

"Those aren't commodities that I've seen much of in the White House, at least during my lifetime," said Schilling, who is scheduled to appear with McCain at a town hall-style forum at the Derryfield School in Manchester on Wednesday night.

Schilling has a personal connection with the senator, whom he first met during his 2000-2002 stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He said he's supporting McCain because he trusts his character, which he considers more important than agreeing with all of the candidate's views on the issues.

"At the end of the day, the perfect candidate does not exist," said Schilling. "So I'm going with the candidate who I know that, two, four years after the election, is going to be the same guy as when I voted for him.

"I feel like I know him well enough, and that I know that every decision he makes will be for the greater good of the country, and not special interests."

Schilling said he considered supporting another Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, "but at the end of the day, my belief has been in John McCain. We're in a bad place right now as a country, and I need someone I can trust to do what needs to be done."

This is not Schilling's first foray into presidential politics. In the wake of Red Sox' 2004 World Series win, Schilling took heat in the blue Bay State when he campaigned for President Bush, over Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.

"I've never gotten more negative feedback in my life," said Schilling, an independent voter who claims to "despise" political labels.

"We are at a time and place in this country, where it seems like everyone is voting for the candidate they dislike the least, and that's a bad place to be," said Schilling.

On the Iraq war, Schilling pointed to McCain's Naval experience, adding that the former Vietnam veteran and prisoner of war "has the right perspective of how the war is supposed to end, and when it should end.

"I want someone who is going to make sure that when we leave (Iraq), we won't have to come back in six months."

As for his own political aspirations, Schilling, who was reportedly courted to run against Sen. Kerry in 2008, said he has no interest in vying for elected office.

"I don't think I have the ability to play some of the back-room games that need to be played to get things done," said Schilling.

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Wednesday, December 5th
Sports Town Hall with Curt Schilling!
5:30 PM
Derryfield School
2108 River Road
Manchester,
Please RSVP to 603-369 - 4972