http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=1779141McCain Woos the Right, Makes Peace With Falwell
Possible 2008 Presidential Contender Makes Inroads With GOP Base
By TEDDY DAVIS
March 28, 2006
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., still breaks from GOP orthodoxy on such issues as torture and immigration. But operating below the radar, the potential Republican presidential hopeful is taking steps to win over the conservatives who denied him the GOP's presidential nomination in 2000.
His efforts have paid off with at least one prominent conservative.
"I think he is genuinely a state's righter -- and so am I," the Rev. Jerry Falwell told ABC News.
When McCain ran for president the last time, he denounced Falwell as one of America's "agents of intolerance." But now that McCain is gearing up to run for president as the GOP's establishment candidate, he has told Falwell that he spoke "in haste" in 2000.
"It just came down to pure old politics in South Carolina and other states," Falwell said.
Falwell and McCain first made peace in a face-to-face meeting a few months ago. In a sign of their improved relationship, McCain has agreed to be the graduation speaker at Falwell's Liberty University on May 13.