McCain Says 2008 Run for President Is Possible

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Sunday that he was not ruling out a run for the 2008 presidential nomination, but that he was not a candidate now.

A decision to run, if one should come, would not be made for at least two years, said McCain, speaking only a few weeks after President Bush won a second term.

“Look, I’m not running for president,” McCain told NBC’s “Meet the Press,” and added: “I do not foreclose the option.”

McCain, a senator since 1986, made a strong run for the Republican nomination in 2000 but lost to Bush in a bitter campaign.

McCain added his popularity to Bush’s reelection campaign this year after rejecting overtures from Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) to join the Democratic ticket as his vice presidential candidate.

“There will be plenty of time to consider whether to run for president again, but certainly I don’t think it’s in any way appropriate for me to speculate on that at this time,” McCain said on NBC.

At least one prominent Republican, Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, has said he is considering a 2008 run for the White House.

McCain will turn 72 on Aug. 29, 2008, at the height of the campaign. President Reagan was 73 at the start of his second term.