McCain's stand against Reagan sticks out to DeWine, 25 years later

MINNEAPOLIS -- Former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine - one of John McCain's earliest supporters for president - said the soon-to-be Republican nominee is largely the same man he was 25 years ago when they met in the U.S. House.

DeWine told PolitickerOH.com aboard Ohio Republican delegation's boat cruise Sunday that when McCain opposed President Reagan in 1983, a year after running as a Reagan Republican, when the president deployed Marines to Lebanon.

"He felt that that was the wrong thing to do," DeWine said. "He goes to the House floor and says it's a mistake, don't do it, we can't protect these guys, we're putting them in harm's way. So that independent thinking was back in '83."

That year a terrorist attack on the barracks killed 241 Americans, and was the dealiest single terrorist attack on Americans until September 11.

DeWine said while McCain is still an independent thinker, he's wiser for haing served in government for a quarter century.

"You can't spend 25 years studying these issues and not grow and have a better grasp on things," DeWine said.

DeWine was one of four GOP Senators to endorse McCain for the Republican nomination in 2000. In light of the George W. Bush's controversial presidency and current low popularity, DeWine was asked if he felt vindicated for originally choosing McCain for president.

"I never look at it that way and John doesn't look at it that way. He was my choice but I campaigned for George Bush both in 2000 and in 2004. John was my first choice, that's historical fact. John's going to be a great president."