VIDEO| McCain makes his area presence known

John McCain at YSU

Video

YOUNGSTOWN — Even if he fares poorly on Election Day in the Democratic-dominated Mahoning Valley, John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, says it’s important to make his presence known in the area.

“I want them to know I’m not leaving anyone behind,” McCain said today in an interview with The Vindicator and The Columbus Dispatch. “Second of all, when I am president I want to be the president of everybody. So I’m going to go all over America to places that I may not win in the election.”

But McCain said he doesn’t plan to surrender any area to the Democrats, including the Mahoning Valley, one of the most Democratic areas of Ohio.

“I’m going to compete and I think this gives me an opportunity to, at least, have contact with people who, frankly, may not ever see a presidential candidate, much less a Republican presidential candidate,” he said.

In the weeks leading to the March Democratic primary, the party’s two presidential candidates visited the Valley — U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., came three times and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., held one public rally.

McCain made three stops today in Youngstown, including a public town-hall forum at Youngstown State University.

McCain said he isn’t concerned that Democrats will succeed in defining who he is during the campaign.

“The American people know me,” he said. “The American people know who I am and what I am and what I stand for and believe in.”

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator or vindy.com