As the Iowa GOP caucus results were announced placing him in fifth place, Republican candidate John McCain made his fifth appearance at Dartmouth College last night -- a reflection of his high-risk strategy of not campaigning in Iowa and concentrating all efforts on the New Hampshire primary.
Confident that his loss in Iowa will not substantially affect his position in N.H. -- where he is a statistical dead heat in the most recent polls -- McCain reminded a packed crowd of students and supporters in Alumni Hall that there is a close race ahead.
Speaking to The Dartmouth after his speech, McCain said the N.H. voters know him well and will not decide based on the Iowa results.
McCain urged his supporters to join his "great crusade," adding, "We're coming down to the wire ... This can be a close race."
Emphasizing how crucial the next week will be for his N.H. campaign, McCain said the preliminaries are over and the playoffs have begun.
"A week from today we can make American political history ... We can show them."
Stressing the same points he has on previous Dartmouth visits, McCain said the Clinton-Gore administration has debased many of the country's beloved institutions and said he plans to remove the cynicism and alienation that exists among young people about the government.
Stressing the need for campaign finance reform, McCain referred to the 1996 campaign when Clinton "treated the Lincoln Bedroom like Motel Six."
McCain also said he was grateful for yesterday's Supreme Court ruling reaffirming the constitutionality of state campaign contribution limits.
He emphasized the need for taking the government out of the hands of the special interests and bringing it back to the American people.
"Democracy only works if people have faith in those who govern them," McCain said.
McCain said his goal is reform, and he is not afraid of losing, adding "I assure you, I will continue my fight of giving the government back to you," he said.
McCain told The Dartmouth he will be victorious because he is the most prepared to be the president of the United States.
The Republican presidential candidate's presence also attracted a group of approximately 10 environmentalists -- mostly Dartmouth students -- dressed in bright red and orange, in the hope that McCain would make a statement about his environmental policy.
