JOHN MCCAIN'S RECOVERY & RETURN TO US SENATE REQUIRES LONG SHOT MIRACLE (ARIZONA SPECIAL ELECTION?)

JOHN MCCAIN'S RECOVERY & RETURN TO US SENATE REQUIRES LONG SHOT MIRACLE:

MCCAIN IS NOW BEING COMPARED TO THE LATE US SENATOR TED KENNEDY WHO DIED OF BRAIN CANCER IN 2009.

WILL A SPECIAL ELECTION BE HELD IN ARIZONA TO REPLACE MCCAIN?

WHEN??


Sources: ABC News, Fox News, NY Times, State of the Nation, Youtube


***** Despite cancer diagnosis, McCain says, 'I'll be back soon'


Battling brain cancer, John McCain on Thursday vowed to return to the Senate, leveling fresh criticism at the Trump administration and aiming a good-natured dig at Republican and Democratic colleagues shaken by news of his diagnosis.

"I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support — unfortunately for my sparring partners in Congress, I'll be back soon, so stand-by!" McCain said in a tweet. Showing no signs of stepping back from political and national security battles, he issued a statement slamming the Trump administration over its Syria policy.

The 80-year-old McCain, the GOP's presidential nominee in 2008 and a six-term Arizona lawmaker, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer, according to doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, who had removed a blood clot above his left eye last Friday.

They also managed to remove all of the tumor that was visible on brain scans.

The senator and his family are considering further treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation, as he recuperates at his home in Arizona. President Donald Trump called the senator on Thursday, said a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private talks.

In a blistering statement through his office, McCain criticized the administration over reports that it was ending a program to assist Syrian opposition forces fighting the government of Bashar Assad.

"If these reports are true, the administration is playing right into the hands of Vladimir Putin," said McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "Making any concession to Russia, absent a broader strategy for Syria, is irresponsible and short-sighted."

Battling brain cancer, John McCain on Thursday vowed to return to the Senate, leveling fresh criticism at the Trump administration and aiming a good-natured dig at Republican and Democratic colleagues shaken by news of his diagnosis.

"I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support — unfortunately for my sparring partners in Congress, I'll be back soon, so stand-by!" McCain said in a tweet. Showing no signs of stepping back from political and national security battles, he issued a statement slamming the Trump administration over its Syria policy.

The 80-year-old McCain, the GOP's presidential nominee in 2008 and a six-term Arizona lawmaker, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer, according to doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, who had removed a blood clot above his left eye last Friday. They also managed to remove all of the tumor that was visible on brain scans.

The senator and his family are considering further treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation, as he recuperates at his home in Arizona. President Donald Trump called the senator on Thursday, said a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private talks.

In a blistering statement through his office, McCain criticized the administration over reports that it was ending a program to assist Syrian opposition forces fighting the government of Bashar Assad.

"If these reports are true, the administration is playing right into the hands of Vladimir Putin," said McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "Making any concession to Russia, absent a broader strategy for Syria, is irresponsible and short-sighted."

More significantly, McCain's absence complicated Republican leader Mitch McConnell's plans for a Senate vote on a GOP health care bill to erase much of Barack Obama's law. A vote is possible as early as Tuesday, but Republican defections plus McCain's likely absence could sink any chance even to get started.

McCain's closest friend in the Senate, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said that they had spoken by telephone Wednesday night and that the diagnosis had been a shock to McCain. But Graham said "woe is me" is not in McCain's DNA. "One thing John has never been afraid of is death," said Graham, who said he expects McCain to be back at the Capitol.

Prior to a Thursday news conference on immigration legislation, Graham said McCain called him three times.

"He is yelling at me to buck up, I'm so going to buck up," Graham said.

It was unclear how long McCain might be out. Earlier this year, Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., missed several weeks after undergoing back surgery. Former Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., was out for nearly a year after suffering a stroke in 2012.

Meantime, prayers and words of encouragement flowed in Thursday from presidents and Senate colleagues past and present.

"I called Senator John McCain this morning to wish him well and encourage him in his fight.

Instead, he encouraged me," said former President George W. Bush, who prevailed over McCain for the GOP presidential nomination in 2000. "I was impressed by his spirit and determination."

Former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas said: "Having known John for many decades, I am certain that he is as tough as they come — if anyone can defeat this, it's him. John is a true American hero."

According to the American Brain Tumor Association, more than 12,000 people a year are diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same type of tumor that struck McCain's Democratic colleague in legislative battles, the late Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.

The American Cancer Society puts the five-year survival rate for patients over 55 at about 4 percent.

McCain, a former combat pilot, has a lifetime of near-death experiences — surviving a July 1967 fire and explosion on the USS Forrestal that killed 134 sailors, flying into power lines in Spain, being shot down in October 1967 and falling into Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi, and going through 5 1/2 years in a North Vietnamese prison.

"The Hanoi Hilton couldn't break John McCain's spirit many years ago, so Barbara and I know — with confidence — he and his family will meet this latest battle in his singular life of service with courage and determination," said former President George H.W. Bush.

Commenting on both McCain and the response, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said, "The outpouring of bipartisan respect and love for John McCain as he faces this cancer battle reminds us that after all the meanness there is a human side to politicians. Count this Democrat in John McCain's corner."

In the past, McCain had been treated for melanoma, but this primary tumor is unrelated. Doctors said McCain is recovering from his surgery "amazingly well" and his underlying health is excellent.

Richard Burr Keeps U.S. Senate Seat! Wins 55-43!

Richard Burr Declared Winner In U.S. Senate Race

North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr vanquished Democratic challenger Elaine Marshall on Tuesday, retaining his seat in Congress with a renewed promise to rein in government spending and debt.

With 20 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Burr held 55 percent of the vote compared with 43 percent for Marshall. Libertarian candidate Michael Beitler had 2 percent.

Burr, who has served one term in the Senate after a decade in the House, had portrayed himself as an agent of change after two years of Democratic control of federal government. His message particularly focused on fiscal discipline, acknowledging past Republican mistakes of intense government spending but blaming Democrats for escalating the excess with President Barack Obama in charge.

"The result of this election shows that North Carolinians expect Congress to find reasonable and rational solutions to build a better future," Burr said after The Associated Press declared him the winner. "I am ready to lead in the effort to make sure the next generation has every opportunity possible to be successful."

Marshall, a veteran politician in Raleigh, had cast herself as an outsider in the race. She blamed Burr for contributing to problems with Washington politics and questioned his ties to interest groups. Marshall vowed to be a champion for average North Carolina residents, touting her work fighting Wall Street firms during her tenure as secretary of state.

Jacque Lewis, of Raleigh, said she is concerned that Burr is too cozy with his party, that Republicans are blocking financial regulation and that the GOP might privatize even part of Social Security. But she said her main worry was government spending — such as Obama's health care overhaul — leading her to vote for Republicans like Burr.

"Save money," said Lewis, 71. "Save money in some way. Save money in any way."

Laurie Fillion, 56, of Raleigh, said she voted a straight Democratic ticket in hopes the party could keep control of the House and Senate.

Fillion and her husband are living on her disability pay and his work as a custodian — totaling $29,000 a year. They begin to run out of food around the end of the third week each month, at which point they start living on hot dogs, spaghetti and ketchup.

"It's scary if the Republicans take Congress," Fillion said. "I know the middle and the low class will be forgotten about."

Unlike two years ago, when Democratic state Sen. Kay Hagan emerged from obscurity in North Carolina to oust widely known Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole, the Democratic establishment in Washington did little to aid Marshall, instead investing in other races around the country where incumbents were at risk of losing their seats. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spent millions on Hagan, but they have aired no ads for Marshall and supported her opponent in the party's primary.

Burr, meanwhile, carried a wide fundraising advantage throughout the race, having brought in more than $8 million for his re-election bid compared to just over $2 million for Marshall.





Burr Maintains Significant, But Smaller Lead


Democratic Senate candidate Elaine Marshall has narrowed the gap with Richard Burr, but the Republican incumbent still maintains a comfortable lead according to two new polls.

A survey by Public Policy Polling shows Burr leading Marshall by a 48 to 40 margin, down from a 13 point gap three weeks ago. Libertarian candidate Michael Beitler was at 3 percent. She has closed the gap because some of the Democratic voters have begun to come home.

A WRAL News Poll also shows a narrowing gap, although it shows Burr with 53 percent and Marshall at 38 percent, with Beitler at 5 percent.

The PPP survey found that while Marshall is picking up support among Democrats, Burr's backing remains steady. It also found that Burr holds a commanding 52-24 advantage lead among independents suggesting his soft-edged ideological campaign is working.

Marshall has made gains at a time when she has raised her profile by finally going on TV with her advertising campaign and appearing in three TV debates.

The PPP survey of 597 likely North Carolina voters was taken from Oct. 15 to 17th and had a margin error of plus or minus four percent.

The WRAL poll was conducted by SurveyUSA polled 857 likely voters Friday through Monday. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.


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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, WCNC, WRAL, Youtube, Google Maps

Alvin Greene's 1st Speech Moved To Hold Large Crowds

Alvin Greene's First Speech Moved To Accommodate Large Crowds


U.S. Democratic Senate (SC) nominee Alvin Greene is set to give his first major campaign speech this weekend.

Sunday, the surprise U.S. senate nominee is speaking to the local chaper of the NAACP. The event is open to the public.

The event was originally scheduled to be held at a local church, but an anticipated large crowd prompted organizers to move the venue to accommodate more people.

The speech will now be held at the Manning Junior High School gym at 4:30 p.m.

Greene is set to challenge Republican Jim DeMint and Green Party Candidate Tom Clements this November.




Alvin Greene Making First Public Speech Before Local NAACP


A month after his surprise win to become South Carolina's Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Alvin Greene said Monday he was finally making his first public speaking appearance.

Greene told The Associated Press he has been invited by a local branch of the state conference of the NAACP to speak at the group's monthly meeting Sunday in his hometown of Manning.

"Jobs, education and justice, the campaign for the general election," Greene said, when asked what he planned to discuss. "That's what I'm focusing on right now."

Greene has given a series of awkward, often terse media interviews since June 8, when he won an unexpected victory over former state lawmaker Vic Rawl. Greene will face GOP U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint in the fall.

An unemployed military veteran who lives at home with his ailing father, Greene has called himself "a true American hero" and suggested last week the creation of action figures of his own likeness as a way to create jobs in South Carolina.

Greene had no website until two weeks ago and did not do any campaign fundraising before the primary. On Monday, Greene said he plans to do more campaigning but did not have any other events scheduled.

Greene said the event will be held at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.

Officials with the NAACP did not immediately return a message Monday. The day after Greene's primary night win, the president of the state National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said he had not met Greene or heard of him before the election.

Greene won another victory Friday, when South Carolina's state police said they would not charge Greene over how he paid his $10,440 U.S. Senate filing fee, despite reporting just over $1,000 in monthly income on court paperwork and being appointed a public defender to represent him on an obscenity charge.

When agents reviewed Greene's bank accounts, they found recent deposits of military pay and state and federal tax refunds that matched Greene's story that the 32-year-old candidate, who has been collecting unemployment benefits since he left the military in August, was able to afford the fee because he saved his money and lived frugally.

Police also wanted to look into whether Greene had misrepresented his financial situation in court by accepting the court-appointed attorney to defend him on a felony charge of showing obscene Internet photos to a University of South Carolina student.

Greene said he didn't ask for a court-appointed attorney or intend to mislead anyone about his financial situation. Police say Greene cooperated with their investigation, and the candidate feels vindicated by the results.

Democratic Party leaders were stunned by Greene's 18-point primary victory and called for him to withdraw from the race after AP reported his arrest. But Greene, who has not entered a plea or been indicted, has declined to comment on the charge and says he's staying in the race.

In addition to DeMint, Greene also faces anti-nuclear activist Tom Clements, a Green Party candidate.


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Sources: Midlandsconnect.com, The Grio, The State, Google Maps

Richard Burr Remains Top Contender In NC-US Senate Race

Richard Burr tops Elaine Marshall by 10


U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican, is ahead of Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, one of his potential Democratic opponents, by ten points, according to a poll by the conservative Civitas Institute.

Among those surveyed, 43.7 percent backed Burr, while 33 percent picked Marshall.

The poll, released Friday, surveyed 600 voters by live interviews on October 20 and 21 and has a margin of error of 4 percent.

Marshall and Durham lawyer Kenneth Lewis have declared their candidacy for the Democratic nomination to challenge Burr next year. Former state Sen. Cal Cunningham is considering a run.



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Sources: McClatchy Newspapers, Under The Dome, Google Maps