Former SoS Munro touts McCain as Westerner with integrity

Former Secretary of State Ralph Munro (R-Olympia) has known presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain since 2000, when his son George was an intern for the Arizona senator. At the time, Munro was leaning toward backing then-Governor George W. Bush for President when his son called him and said, "Dad, this guy is for real. You've got to meet him."

The meeting happened, and Munro became an instant supporter of McCain. He became a campaign chair for Washington state during McCain's 2000 presidential run, and still considers himself a strong supporter on the strength of McCain's integrity and knowledge.

"I have been in politics for a long, long time," Munro said. "I think the number one thing for me is honesty. He is extremely honest, extremely direct. I think those are great attributes in today's world."

The former Secretary of State also touted McCain's unique standing as a U.S Senator from a fellow Western state as an advantage for Washington voters.

"He's a westerner, he understands our issues," Munro said. "When you ask him a question about Hanford, he knows the details of the answer. He knows the tribal issues. He knows the environmental issues. He knows the water issues. He knows the free trade issues."

Munro also predicted that McCain would have substantial appeal in Washington's many military communities, and that he is uniquely positioned based on his history of leading on non-Republican issues to draw in Democrats.

Munro told PolitickerWA.com that he was confident about John McCain's chances to carry the state in November.

"I know that Barack Obama is basking in the limelight right now," he said, "but I think we've got a real shot at this. We won't win in downtown Seattle, we know that. But I think we'll be ballot to pull enough Democrats out of the ranks to win."

He cited blue collar workers and those whose jobs depend on the ports like longshoremen as traditional Democratic strongholds that are ripe for the picking this year.

"Our state is benefitting immensely from free trade," Munro pointed out, and said that when Obama suggest that America ought to renegotiate NAFTA, "let me tell ya, that doesn't help us."

Despite his faith in John McCain's chances, Munro does not think there will be a major down ticket effect from having McCain as the nominee.

"I'm not a great believer in down tickets. I think if you have a huge landslide it helps," said Munro, who was first elected Secretary of State on the same ticket as fellow Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980.

But Munro predicts that a landslide is not in the cards.

"I think it will be a close race nationally unless someone stumbles, I'm not sure it will make a difference down ticket or not," he said.

Munro should know, having been directly involved in major statewide campaigns for nearly thirty years, both for good and ill.

"I've seen it come and go," Munro said. "In 1992 was the only Republican left in the capitol."