MAMMA ARIANNA

Booed for Backing Bush, McCain Gets Squeeze From Huffington

As the anti-Bush Unity 2000 demonstration in downtown Philadelphia almost
sputtered out on Sunday, John McCain, the much touted opening speaker of
Arianna Huffington's Shadow Convention, enthusiastically and unexpectedly
endorsed George W. Bush for president and urged the 300-odd conventiongoers
to back the GOP as the "party of reform."

To a chorus of boos and calls of "Gong! Gong! Gong!" McCain proudly
trumpeted Shrub's conservatism, warmly spoke of the United States as the
"last best hope on earth," and saluted Theodore Roosevelt. As the calls of
"get him out of here" rose, McCain threatened to walk off the podium, but
Arianna rushed to the stage and comforted the senator and one-time
candidate. "This is a convention where you can hear everything with
respect," she declared.

Huffington opened her own remarks by noting that without McCain, a Shadow
Convention could never have taken place.

Republican bigwigs had sought to get McCain to cancel his plans for
addressing Huffington's convention, which is devoted to exploring such
subjects as the gap between rich and poor, campaign finance reform, and the
failure of the administration's drug policy. The GOP leadership regards the
eccentric Huffington as an uncontrollable maverick who is raining on their
Philadelphia parade. By stumping for Bush at Huffington's gathering, McCain
effectively put a dagger in her back.

McCain's loyalty to Shrub was a long time coming. Bush has tried again and
again to mend fences with him as far back as the New Hampshire primaries,
and even raised the possibility early on of his becoming the VP nominee. It
has always been assumed that should Bush win, McCain will get a cabinet
post, possibly secretary of defense.

Meanwhile, Huffington's Shadow Convention continues to darken the margins.
Speakers today include Ellen Miller of Public Campaign and Scott
Harshbarger of Common Cause, both talking about campaign-finance reform.
Minnesota senator Paul Wellstone, who backed Bill Bradley during the
campaign, and Bill Greider of The Nation also take the mike.