Paul_Yates's Blog

Sen. John McCain surprised some people by labeling Georgia as "competitive in the general election." McCain cited the state's "dynamic growth" and "new population from all over America." He added, "I'll be coming back to this great state."

Georgia has been reliably Republican in recent years. Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential candidate to win the state back in 1992. It is true that Democrats have scored impressive voter turnout numbers during the primaries. Those gains have included Georgia and other red states.

I interviewed McCain along with two other Atlanta television reporters. Each of us had five-minute sessions with him on-camera. It was the second time we've had direct access to the candidate in a little more than a month. McCain is very good in those situations. He is relaxed, yet direct, and that's also the case in his "town hall" sessions. His traveling press secretary, Brooke Buchanan, acts as the enforcer, closely monitoring reporters who forget to stop asking questions.

McCain's steady march of public appearances and interviews since clinching the Republican nomination are a strong signal that the candidate's immediate goals include more than fundraising, although that's vital for him. McCain must also avoid dropping off the news cycle radar as the Democrats battle on.