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Pressed On Immigration, McCain's Responses Terse

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The Associated Press

Published: October 23, 2008

Updated: 10/23/2008 04:25 pm

ORMOND BEACH - Presidential candidate John McCain isn't happy about having to explain why the Republican Party has had to spend $150,000 on clothes, hairstyling and accessories for running mate Sarah Palin.

McCain was asked several questions today about the shopping spree -- and he answered each one more or less the same way: Palin needed clothes, and they'll be donated to charity.

"She needed clothes at the time. They'll be donated at end of this campaign. They'll be donated to charity," McCain told reporters on his campaign bus between Florida rallies.

Asked for details on how they will be donated, McCain said, "It works by her getting some clothes when she was made the nominee of the party and it will be donated back to charity."

Asked if he was surprised at the amount spent, McCain said, "It works that the clothes will be donated to charity. Nothing surprises me."

McCain offered no further comment, except to say that the Republican National Committee doesn't buy his clothes.

News of the purchases, largely from upscale Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, contrasts with the image Palin has crafted as a typical hockey mom.

Asked Wednesday who had paid for the suit he was wearing, Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden told WSLS-TV in Roanoke, Va., "I pay for my suits. I pay for all of my own clothing."

McCain also said that Barack Obama's money advantage is probably why one Florida poll shows the Democrat doing well in the state. A Quinnipiac University poll released today shows Obama up 5 percentage points overall in Florida, which went Republican in the past two presidential elections.

They spent more; that's the element," McCain said. "If it's true — organization. But we've energized volunteers; we'll get our vote out."

He then criticized Obama for not accepting public campaign financing after initially indicating he would. That means he can raise and spend as much as he can, and he's doing so at a clip of about $5 million a day. McCain did accept public financing and no longer can raise money. Obama began October with $134 million in the bank, compared with $47 million for McCain.

"He told the American people something that was patently false, and then he's raised a whole lot of money, and the implications of that for future presidential elections should be very disturbing to every American. One thing we've shown in history — you get unlimited amounts of money into political campaigns, you get corruption and you get scandals," McCain said.

At one point in the interview, McCain grew frustrated with a Tampa television reporter during her questions on immigration issues. McCain twice said illegal immigrants who have committed crimes would be rounded up. Katie Coronado of News Channel 8 asked whether that meant using raids to round up immigrants.

"What did I just say that had any connotation of raids?" McCain said, raising his voice with impatience. "Let me try one more time."

He again explained the idea of forcing illegal immigrants out of the country by issuing ID cards and fining employers who hire illegals. He then softened his tone.

"I apologize," he said to Coronado. "I understand how important an issue it is. I didn't mean to be flip."

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