After his diagnosis, McCain announced he would not seek office again and began taking visitors at his Arizona ranch.
One of the most consequential days of John McCain’s political life was spent in the Miami Valley.
On Aug. 29, 2008, McCain’s campaign revealed one of the best-kept secrets in presidential political history – the announcement of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.
It has been long debated whether the selection of Palin helped or hurt McCain’s presidential run, but the announcement made at Wright State University’s Nutter Center electrified the crowd and took the political world by surprise.
Here’s a list of McCain’s visits to the Miami Valley during the 2008 campaign eventually won by former President Barack Obama.
Feb. 20, 2008
Clark County | Young’s Jersey Dairy
Dayton | Sinclair Community College
In about 10 minutes, U.S. Sen. John McCain covered ice cream, federal earmarks, the economy, party unity, Iraq and veterans.
“I want to clean up the spending and corruption in Washington,” McCain, told more than 500 people during a brief stop at Young’s Jersey Dairy.
He was the front-runner for the Republican nomination, which was yet to be decided
Later that afternoon, McCain stopped at Sinclair Community College in Dayton for a private event.
Aug. 7, 2008
Wilmington | Wilmington College
Credit: Lisa Powell
Credit: Lisa Powell
McCain had a 45-minute private meeting with community activists in Wilmington who were trying to preserve 8,000 to 10,000 jobs from being lost at DHL’s Wilmington air freight hub resulting from a deal the company made with UPS .
He stopped to greet people outside Wilmington College.
Aug. 29, 2008
Fairborn | Wright State University's Nutter Center
Credit: Chris Stewart
Credit: Chris Stewart
McCain stunned most people with the selection of Palin as his running mate, keeping the choice under wraps until just minutes before taking the stage.
“She’s not in the least partisan,” McCain said. “She’s not even in Washington.”
McCain, who turned 72 that day, came on stage to the sound of the flag-waving crowd of 12,000 singing Happy Birthday.
Sept. 9, 2008
Lebanon | The Golden Lamb
Credit: Ron Alvey
Credit: Ron Alvey
Chants of “John McCain” and “Sarah” echoed off historic Lebanon storefronts through a light drizzle.
McCain took the stage and introduced his ticket as “a team of mavericks.”
“It’s going to be a tough battle here. We have to take this state,” Palin told about 10,000 people packed in the streets around The Golden Lamb.
Oct. 27, 2008
Kettering | Trent Arena
With just one week left in the campaign, McCain told the crowd he would “fight to the end.”
“I’ve never been the kind to back down when the stakes are high,” he told between 3,500 and 3,600 gathered in the James S. Trent Arena. “The pundits have written us off, just like they’ve done before.”
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