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McCain Will Try For Massachusetts

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By LIZ SIDOTI, The Associated Press

Published: February 2, 2008

CHICAGO - John McCain plans to aggressively compete in Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney's Massachusetts, a bold move that reflects a deep desire not just to beat the former Massachusetts governor but bury him in his own backyard.

The Arizona senator will pick up the endorsement of former Gov. Paul Cellucci today, run radio ads in the state, and campaign in Boston on Monday. Another of the state's former governors, Jane Swift, also will make appearances on his behalf over the weekend, and volunteer phone calls will begin. McCain secured the endorsements of The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald weeks ago.

"We believe we have a chance in Massachusetts because Massachusetts voters know Governor Romney's record very well," Steve Schmidt, a McCain adviser, said Friday.

Countered Kevin Madden, a Romney spokesman: "Governor Romney has strong support from Republicans across Massachusetts." He added: "If the McCain campaign wants to waste time and money ... I say 'be my guest.'"

McCain is plowing ahead toward Super Tuesday contests and possibly the GOP nomination following back-to-back wins in South Carolina on Jan. 19, and Florida earlier this week.

A New Hampshire victory over Romney last month set him on course.

"From what we see in the polls, I think that there's a very good chance it could be over on Tuesday but I think there's a lot of undecided voters," McCain said on his campaign plane. "But I'm hoping. The sooner we get that done, the sooner I can go to work on uniting the party."

His strategy for Tuesday calls for focusing on big-prize California, and Northeast delegate-rich battlegrounds of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts

McCain is ahead in the delegate race. He's at the top of national polls, and is in strong position in many of the states where he plans to compete.

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