A frank meeting of minds
John McCain’s weakness for junk food is legendary among reporters. A typical day includes doughnuts in the morning, followed by an afternoon Coke-and-candy-bar snack.
While reporters marvel over how McCain maintains his weight, aides chalk it up to all that pacing he does onstage during his town hall gatherings.
But the presumptive Republican nominee crossed a new threshold this week when he went to the White House for President Bush’s endorsement Wednesday. Reporters expected white linens and a formal menu -- possibly served, for good measure, on the Reagan china. Not so.
“You actually ordered a hot dog?” this reporter asked, incredulous, when McCain wandered to the back of the campaign plane later that day.
“Yeah!” he said. “He said he was having a hot dog, so I had a hot dog.”
Another reporter asked McCain if he sat in the president’s chair. “I’m pretty presumptuous -- but I wouldn’t do that,” he said.
He did, however, call his 96-year-old mom to give her the White House scoop.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
