John McCain

=== Remainder of third Senate term ===

McCain began 2001 by breaking with the new [[Presidency of George W. Bush|George W. Bush administration]] on a number of matters, including [[HMO]] reform, climate change, and gun control legislation; [[McCain–Feingold]] was opposed by Bush as well.<ref name="m-b" /><ref name="az-gwb">Nowicki, Dan and Muller, Bill. [https://www.azcentral.com/news/specials/mccain/articles/0301mccainbio-chapter11.html "John McCain Report: The 'maverick' and President Bush"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308050638/https://azcentral.com/news/specials/mccain/articles/0301mccainbio-chapter11.html |date=March 8, 2021 }}, ''[[The Arizona Republic]]'' (March 1, 2007). Retrieved December 27, 2007.</ref> In May 2001, McCain was one of only two Senate Republicans to vote against the [[Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001|Bush tax cuts]].<ref name="az-gwb" /><ref name="pfspt">Holan, Angie. [http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/14/ "McCain switched on tax cuts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012163246/http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/14/ |date=October 12, 2007 }}, Politifact, ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]''. Retrieved December 27, 2007.</ref> Besides the differences with Bush on ideological grounds, there was considerable antagonism between the two remaining from the previous year's campaign.<ref name="time071608">Carney, James. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080717145605/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1823695,00.html "Frenemies: The McCain-Bush Dance"], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (July 16, 2008). Retrieved August 11, 2008.</ref><ref>Drew, ''Citizen McCain'', 5.</ref> Later, when a Republican senator, [[Jim Jeffords]], became an Independent, thereby throwing control of the Senate to the Democrats, McCain defended Jeffords against "self-appointed enforcers of party loyalty".<ref name="az-gwb" /> Indeed, there was speculation at the time, and in years since, about McCain himself leaving the Republican Party, but McCain had always adamantly denied that he ever considered doing so.<ref name="az-gwb" /><ref>[[Thomas B. Edsall|Edsall, Thomas]] and [[Dana Milbank|Milbank, Dana]]. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73520465.html?dids=73520465:73520465&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+2%2C+2001&author=Thomas+B.+Edsall+and+Dana+Milbank&pub=The+Washington+Post&edition=&startpage=A.01&desc=McCain+Is+Considering+Leaving+GOP "McCain Is Considering Leaving GOP: Arizona Senator Might Launch a Third-Party Challenge to Bush in 2004"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (June 2, 2001). Retrieved May 10, 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308075310/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73520465.html?dids=73520465:73520465&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+2%2C+2001&author=Thomas+B.+Edsall+and+Dana+Milbank&pub=The+Washington+Post&edition=&startpage=A.01&desc=McCain+Is+Considering+Leaving+GOP |date=March 8, 2008}}</ref><ref name="hill032807">Cusack, Bob. [http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-say-mccain-nearly-abandoned-gop-2007-03-28.html "Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120110110/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-say-mccain-nearly-abandoned-gop-2007-03-28.html |date=January 20, 2008 }}, ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' (March 28, 2007). Retrieved January 17, 2008.</ref> Beginning in 2001, McCain used [[political capital]] gained from his presidential run, as well as improved legislative skills and relationships with other members, to become one of the Senate's most influential members.<ref>Kirkpatrick, David D. [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/us/politics/21mccain.html "After 2000 Run, McCain Learned to Work Levers of Power"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330000100/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/us/politics/21mccain.html |date=March 30, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'' (July 21, 2008). Retrieved August 11, 2008.</ref>

After the [[September 11, 2001, attacks]], McCain supported Bush and the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|U.S.-led war in Afghanistan]].<ref name="az-gwb" /><ref>McCain, John. [http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=95001375 "No Substitute for Victory: War is hell. Let's get on with it"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424022332/http://opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=95001375 |date=April 24, 2008 }}, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' (October 26, 2001). Retrieved January 17, 2008.</ref> He and Democratic senator [[Joe Lieberman]] wrote the legislation that created the [[9/11 Commission]],<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/09/07/911.legislation/index.html "Senate bill would implement 9/11 panel proposals"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325020405/http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/09/07/911.legislation/index.html |date=March 25, 2008 }}, [[CNN]] (September 8, 2004). Retrieved January 17, 2008.</ref> while he and Democratic senator [[Fritz Hollings]] co-sponsored the [[Aviation and Transportation Security Act]] that federalized [[airport security]].<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/terrorism-july-dec01-congress_10-12/ "Senate Approves Aviation Security, Anti-Terrorism Bills"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407100943/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/terrorism-july-dec01-congress_10-12/ |date=April 7, 2016 }}, [[The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer|Online NewsHour]], [[PBS]] (October 12, 2001). Retrieved January 17, 2008.</ref>

In March 2002, McCain–Feingold, officially known as the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act]] of 2002, passed in both Houses of Congress and was signed into law by President Bush.<ref name="m-b" /><ref name="az-gwb" /> Seven years in the making, it was McCain's greatest legislative achievement.<ref name="az-gwb" /><ref>Alexander, ''Man of the People'', p. 168</ref>

[[File:John McCain pork.png|thumb|left|alt=Red rocks landscape of Arizona with McCain image added, on uppper half; cartoon illustration of pigs inside brown barrels on lower half|McCain's Senate website from 2003 to 2006 illustrated his concern about [[pork barrel]] spending.<ref name="az-maverick" />]]

Meanwhile, in discussions over proposed U.S. action against [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]], McCain was a strong supporter of the Bush administration's position.<ref name="az-gwb" /> He stated that Iraq was "a clear and present danger to the United States of America", and voted accordingly for the [[Iraq War Resolution]] in October 2002.<ref name="az-gwb" /> He predicted that U.S. forces would be treated as liberators by a large number of the Iraqi people.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070212233445/http://mccain.senate.gov/press_office/view_article.cfm?id=53 "Sen. McCain's Interview With Chris Matthews"], ''[[Hardball with Chris Matthews]]'', [[MSNBC]] (March 12, 2003). Via McCain's Senate website and archive.org. Retrieved April 7, 2008.</ref> In May 2003, McCain voted against the second round of Bush tax cuts, saying it was unwise at a time of war.<ref name="pfspt" /> By November 2003, after a trip to Iraq, he was publicly questioning Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]], saying that more U.S. troops were needed; the following year, McCain announced that he had lost confidence in Rumsfeld.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/july-dec03/mccain_11-06_a.html "Newsmaker: Sen. McCain"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119023447/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/july-dec03/mccain_11-06_a.html |date=January 19, 2014 }}, [[PBS]], [[The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer|NewsHour]] (November 6, 2003). Retrieved January 17, 2008.</ref><ref name="az-estab">Nowicki, Dan and Muller, Bill. [https://www.azcentral.com/news/specials/mccain/articles/0301mccainbio-chapter12.html "John McCain Report: The 'maverick' goes establishment"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724130605/http://www.azcentral.com/news/specials/mccain/articles/0301mccainbio-chapter12.html |date=July 24, 2008 }}, ''[[The Arizona Republic]]'' (March 1, 2007). Retrieved December 23, 2007.</ref>

In October 2003, McCain and Lieberman co-sponsored the [[Climate Stewardship Acts|Climate Stewardship Act]] that would have introduced a [[cap and trade]] system aimed at returning [[greenhouse gas]] emissions to 2000 levels; the bill was defeated with 55&nbsp;votes to 43 in the Senate.<ref>[http://www.pewclimate.org/policy_center/analyses/s_139_summary.cfm "Summary of the Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411180537/http://www.pewclimate.org/policy_center/analyses/s_139_summary.cfm |date=April 11, 2008}}, [[Pew Research Center|Pew Center on Global Climate Change]]. Retrieved April 24, 2008.</ref> They reintroduced modified versions of the Act two additional times, for the final time in January 2007 with the co-sponsorship of [[Barack Obama]], among others.<ref>[http://lieberman.senate.gov/index.cfm/news-events/news/2007/1/lieberman-mccain-reintroduce-climate-stewardship-and-innovation-act "Lieberman, McCain Reintroduce Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322173016/http://lieberman.senate.gov/index.cfm/news-events/news/2007/1/lieberman-mccain-reintroduce-climate-stewardship-and-innovation-act |date=March 22, 2012}}, Lieberman Senate website (January 12, 2007). Retrieved April 24, 2008.</ref>

[[File:George W. Bush and John McCain at the Navy goal line 2004.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7| President [[George W. Bush]] with Senator McCain, December 2004]]

In the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 U.S. presidential election campaign]], McCain was once again frequently mentioned for the vice-presidential slot, only this time as part of the Democratic ticket under nominee John Kerry.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-03-10-mccain-vp_x.htm "McCain: I'd 'entertain' Democratic VP slot"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315153420/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-03-10-mccain-vp_x.htm |date=March 15, 2012 }}, [[Associated Press]] for ''[[USA Today]]'' (March 10, 2004). Retrieved May 6, 2008.</ref><ref name="nyt061204">Halbfinger, David. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090411021604/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/12/politics/campaign/12MCCA.html "McCain Is Said To Tell Kerry He Won't Join"], ''[[The New York Times]]'' (June 12, 2004). Retrieved January 3, 2008.</ref><ref name="wapo061204">Balz, Dan and VandeHei, Jim. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34742-2004Jun11.html "McCain's Resistance Doesn't Stop Talk of Kerry Dream Ticket"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210103754/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34742-2004Jun11.html |date=February 10, 2017 }}, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (June 12, 2004). Retrieved January 18, 2008.</ref> McCain said that Kerry had never formally offered him the position and that he would not have accepted it if he had.<ref name="nyt061204" /><ref name="wapo061204" /><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/5225039 "Kerry wants to boost child-care credit"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824052312/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5225039 |date=August 24, 2017 }}, [[Associated Press]]. [[NBC News]] (June 16, 2004). Retrieved March 8, 2008.</ref> At the [[2004 Republican National Convention]], McCain supported Bush for re-election, praising Bush's management of the [[War on Terror]] since the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name="cnn083004">Loughlin, Sean. [http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/30/gop.mccain/index.html "McCain praises Bush as 'tested'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224043125/http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/30/gop.mccain/index.html |date=December 24, 2007 }}, [[CNN]] (August 30, 2004). Retrieved November 14, 2007.</ref> At the same time, he defended Kerry's Vietnam War record.<ref>Coile, Zachary. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/08/06/MNGUT83SS41.DTL "Vets group attacks Kerry; McCain defends Democrat"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328140333/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F08%2F06%2FMNGUT83SS41.DTL |date=March 28, 2012 }}, ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' (August 6, 2004). Retrieved August 15, 2006.</ref> By August 2004, McCain had the best favorable-to-unfavorable rating (55&nbsp;percent to 19&nbsp;percent) of any national politician;<ref name="cnn083004" /> he campaigned for Bush much more than he had four years previously, though the two remained situational allies rather than friends.<ref name="time071608" />

McCain was also up for re-election as senator, in 2004. He defeated little-known Democratic schoolteacher Stuart Starky with his biggest margin of victory, garnering 77&nbsp;percent of the vote.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/AZ/S/01/epolls.0.html "Election 2004: U.S. Senate – Arizona – Exit Poll"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121165231/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/AZ/S/01/epolls.0.html |date=January 21, 2008 }}, [[CNN]]. Retrieved December 23, 2007.</ref>