By Jen DiMascio
As the Republican primary nears the key early races in Iowa and New Hampshire, Sen. John McCain’s campaign is releasing endorsements that highlight the Arizona Republican’s military muscle and ties to the defense industry.
While McCain’s bid for the Republican nomination started strong, his poll numbers dropped sharply in the spring, and gains by former Arkansas Gov. Mick Huckabee and Texas Rep. Ron Paul were eating into support especially in early primary states.
This week, some polls are showing a renewed surge by McCain.
That comes on the heels of a Dec. 15 endorsement by the Des Moines Register in Iowa and by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I/D-Conn.), who crossed party lines to support McCain.
Lieberman touted McCain’s independent streak and his ability to lead the nation’s military.
“When it comes to keeping America safe in this time of war, John has proven that he has the experience, the strength, and the character, to be our commander-in-chief from day one,” Lieberman said in a Dec. 17 press conference in New Hampshire. “I have traveled the world with John, so I can tell you how much he is liked and admired by leaders across the globe. He will be a president our friends will respect and our enemies will fear, and a president who will lead our nation on the world stage with purpose and principle.”
Lieberman and McCain, who serve together on the Senate Armed Services Committee, are both proponents of continuing the war in Iraq.
Several days earlier, McCain released the names of 100 retired admirals and generals who back his campaign.
That Navy-heavy list, which includes former chiefs of naval operations and a Marine Corps commandant, also brings together a handful of retired brass who went on to significant roles in industry.
Those leaders include: Vice Adm. Mike Bowman, an executive vice president for DRS Technologies [DRS]; Adm. Robert Foley, a former vice president at Raytheon International [RTN]; Marine Maj. Gen. Harry Jenkins, once a director of business development and congressional liaison for ITT Corp. [ITT] ; Rear Adm. Michael “Carlos” Johnson, who in 2002 was named president and CEO of Recon/Optical; Adm. Charles Larson, who served on the Northrop Grumman [NOC] board of directors; and Adm. Joe Lopez, a senior vice president and global director of U.S. government and foreign operations for Kellogg, Brown and Root [KBR]. He serves on the board of directors for EADS North America.
Other industry supporters of McCain are Rear Adm. Thomas Lynch, who served on a board of advisers for Gestalt; Rear Adm. Daniel March, on the board of directors of Analex–a division of Qinetiq; Vice Adm. Dennis McGinn, named vice president of strategic planning and business development of Battelle in 2003; Adm. Paul David Miller a former president of Alliant Techsystems [ATK]; Adm. Benjamin Montoya, on the board of directors at Jacobs Engineering [JEC]; and Marine Maj. Gen. Michael Ryan, executive vice president for government business at Rolls-Royce North America.