McCain holds women-only town hall meeting in Hudson

Senator John McCain told an audience in Hudson, Wisconsin Friday morning that the Badger State, like Minnesota, will be a battleground in the presidential election and he plans to spend a lot of time there between now and November.

The Republican hopeful held what his campaign dubbed a "town hall meeting for women only" in Hudson's industrial park. And yet none of the questions he fielded from the crowd of 600 women dealt with issues unique to women.

The notion of expanding nuclear power came up three times, including a query from a woman who asked how he planned to convince Americans of the need for 45 new nuclear power plants.

"American are very very smart people," McCain replied, "And they know that nuclear power is safe. By the way, the United States Navy has sailed ships around the world for 60 years with nuclear power plants on them and we've never had a problem."

The brand-new Towerview Business Center in that Hudson's industrial park played host to the event. Owner, LouAnne Reger, heads J & L Steel Erectors, a company she started 30 years ago.

"I know you all want to know how to lose 5 pounds in one week," Reger told the group before introducing McCain and his wife Cindy, "All you have to do is host a Town Hall for John McCain!"

When Cindy McCain took the microphone she countered with a weight loss plan of her own.

"You want to know how to lose 30 pounds? help your husband run for president!"

On a more serious note, Mrs. McCain pointed out that she's got two sons on active military duty, one in the Navy and one in the Marines. And she said they are the main reason she's on the campaign trail.

"I wanted my two sons and every other young man and woman around this country that is serving so gallantly to be safe and come home with honor, and with dignity and with pride."

Challenge to Obama

Senator McCain again called on his Democratic opponent Barack Obama to join him for similar townhall meetings, saying he'd learn how invigorating they are.

"Because I learn more and gain more from these encounters than you do," McCain said, "Because I need to know what's on your mind."

The Obama campaign has signalled a willingness to conduct joint meetings, as well as debates, at some point in the future. Most experts don't expect to see the two men share the same stage until after they've been formally nominated at the end of the summer.

But McCain continues to raise the notion.

"I hope the American people will urge Senator Obama to come to these things," he said, "They're great, they're wonderful. He'll find them a great and exhilarating experience."

He conceded he won't always come up with the best answers off the cuff, but the question and answer sessions make him a better candidate in the end.

Undecided voter

The audience was made up predominantly of Republican women, because of ticketing was handled through the Saint Croix County Republican Party. However there were some who identified themselves as Democrats or undecided women.

"I am undecided," said one questioner with a microphone, "What can you tell me that will help me vote for you?"

As she started to hand the microphone back to McCain she took it back for a second.

"I'm tired of the war and I'm tired of spending all the money over there when we need so many things to fix here."

McCain's answer came back to his past history of being a maverick at times, and crossing party lines.

"There have been times when Republicans have been mad at me and there are times others have been mad at me, because I've done what I believe is right and I've put my country first."

Array of issues

On the issue of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska McCain said he believes it should be left alone for now, but that the nation needs to accelerate off-shore drilling in the outer continental shelf.

"We are sending $700 billion do countries, many of whom don't like us. The largest transfer of wealth in the history of the world."

Another participant asked McCain what he thought about allegations that Vice President Dick Cheney had ordered government scientists to delete or censor evidence of global warming in environmental reports submitted to Congress.

McCain said he wasn't familiar with those accusations, but that he's traveled around the world and seen the effects of global warming. He said he's urged the federal government to do more to address greenhouse gases.

In response to a question about immigration reform, McCain said much of the illegal immigration issue could be solved with the use of "tamper-proof biometric documents which cannot be counterfeited" for hiring international workers on a temporary basis.

Those who've already entered the country without permission, he said, present a humanitarian challenge which must be handled in a humane fashion consistent with America's Judeo-Christian underpinnings.

Obama's Hudson office

The Obama counter punch came just a couple minutes later, and a couple miles away in downtown Hudson, where the Obama campaign opened its Hudson office.

Among those on hand to launch the new operation was Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Kelliher.

"The McCain plan right now gives $4 billion dollars in tax cuts to the oil companies," Kelliher told KARE 11, "That's just the same old plan, the same as President Bush."

She said small businesses, especially those owned by women, would fare better with Obama as president because of his plans to increase child care credits and paid sick leave among other initiatives.

"Senator McCain wants to continue this failed President Bush policy of giving tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans," Kelliher said.

"Now if you're the owner of eBay that's terrific, but if you're the owner of the quilt shop or the coffee shop on main street you really need a middle class tax cut to be able to have a little more capital to put into your business."

By John Croman, KARE 11 News

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