McCain recovers from South Carolina disappointment, wins in Arizona, Michigan

Exit polls show record turnout of Democrats, independents in Michigan

By Ian Christopher McCaleb/CNN

February 22, 2000
Web posted at: 11:07 p.m. EST (0407 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Arizona Sen. John McCain won GOP primaries Tuesday in Michigan and Arizona, injecting a significant amount of fuel into his campaign efforts and providing renewed confidence heading into the multiple state primary on March 7.

"What a difference a couple of days makes," McCain exclaimed at his victory speech in Phoenix on Tuesday night, in reference to his loss Saturday in South Carolina. "We took on the 'iron triangle' of big money, lobbyists and legislation, and we won another battle."

Sen. John McCain claims victory in the Arizona and Michigan primaries.

CNN has estimated that McCain will win his home state by a wide margin. But while McCain's Arizona win was expected, the estimates showed history may be made in Michigan Tuesday night.

CNN's estimates indicated that a stunning number of Democrats and independents turned out to vote in Michigan through the course of the day -- and their combined numbers represented some 51 percent of the state's electorate.

View results from Michigan and Arizona.

Estimates indicated 33 percent of the people who cast votes in Michigan described themselves as independent, while 18 percent said they were Democrats. That leaves a Republican turnout -- for the state's Republican primary -- at only 49 percent.

CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider said the estimates paint a dim picture for the state's GOP establishment. "This is the lowest percentage of Republicans ever seen in a Republican primary," Schneider said after pouring over the poll data.

Some 1 million voters may have cast votes in the Wolverine State primary.

Speaking from Phoenix after learning of his simultaneous victories, McCain thanked the people of Michigan for coming to his aid and delivering a victory in a state where Bush had established a formidable campaign operation.

"Today, Michigan sent a powerful message across America -- a message that our party wants real reform from the real reformer," McCain said.

In an effort to reach out to core Republicans in the wake of sustained criticism from the Bush camp on the complexion of the Michigan electorate, McCain said at his victory speech: "I am a proud Republican conservative. I love the Republican Party. It is my home."

McCain said his mission as a presidential hopeful is to bring about an end to "Washington pork barrel spending," while rebuilding the military, cutting taxes and "protecting the unborn."

Of the registered Republicans who cast votes in Michigan on Tuesday, 67 percent said they voted for Bush, 25 percent for McCain, and 8 percent for other candidates, including conservative talk show host Alan Keyes and some third party hopefuls.

Of the self-described Democrats who voted in Michigan, a whopping 82 percent cast votes for McCain, 13 percent for Bush, and 5 percent for other candidates, according to estimates.

Bush stops over in Kansas City

Bush appeared perturbed early in the evening -- prior to any official announcements of the outcome in Michigan -- during a stopover in Kansas City, Missouri, where his plane took on fuel in preparation for the governor's trip to campaign in California.

As he did after his loss in New Hampshire, Bush took select pot shots at the voters of Michigan -- all the while building up voters in his new target state -- telling a brief news conference on the ground in Kansas City that he looked forward to the upcoming Missouri primary on March 7.

Gov. George W. Bush spoke Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri.

"Among Republicans and independents, there is no question who the winner is in Michigan tonight, and you're looking at him," Bush said. "I like my chances in Missouri ... I can't wait to come to your state to talk about my record."

Michigan Gov. John Engler, director of the Bush effort in the state, told CNN early in the evening that the Bush operation in Michigan was not concerned with the exit poll information, because "this is such a weird model."

"We've got a long night ahead," Engler said. As for CNN's declaration that McCain would win in his state, Engler made mention of the 1948 flubbed Chicago Tribune headline that mistakenly proclaimed Thomas Dewey had beaten Harry Truman for the presidency. The errant headline was immortalized in a famous news service photograph of a beaming Truman holding that issue of the Tribune over his head.

"Good luck with that estimate," Engler said.

There were 58 Republican delegates at stake in Michigan, with 30 more up for grabs in Arizona.

Arizona turnout

McCain was on track to enjoy a significant victory at home in Arizona. CNN estimates showed that 54 percent of the Republicans who went to the polls in the state voted for McCain, who has represented Arizona in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate for 17 years.

Forty-two percent of Arizona Republicans cast votes for Bush, according to estimates. Sixty percent of those who voted in Arizona's Republican primary and said they had lived in the state for more than 10 years voted for McCain, and 75 percent of the people who voted for McCain said they believed he had the right temperament to become president -- despite persistent rumors of his allegedly foul temper.

Arizona's Republican primary is "closed," meaning only registered Republicans may cast votes.

"We scored a great victory here, in the place that has always mattered so much to me, my beautiful Arizona," McCain said Tuesday night.

Last minute campaigning had a bitter taste

While campaigning earlier in the day, Bush slammed McCain for purportedly painting him as having anti-Catholic leanings. In turn, the Arizona senator complained about what he said were phone calls made on The Texas governor's behalf that labeled McCain's national campaign chairman as a "vicious bigot" toward Christian conservatives.

Automated phone calls to voters were fingered by both presidential hopefuls as the source of the allegedly inflammatory religious remarks.

Bush said his opponent was behind calls that accuse him of being an "anti-Catholic bigot" for his appearance earlier this month at Bob Jones University, a conservative Christian college in South Carolina.

The school, and its founder Bob Jones, have often been criticized for sharp anti-Catholic rhetoric.

In Michigan, where more than one-fourth of the population is Catholic, Bush blasted the phone calls and noted that his brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, is Catholic, as is Michigan Gov. Engler. Engler on Tuesday threw his considerable support behind Bush's get-out-the-vote effort and appeared with him at Jimi's Restaurant in Royal Oak.

"Mr. McCain's making phone calls in this state accusing me of being an anti-Catholic bigot, and I don't appreciate it," Bush said. "It's as low as it gets."

The Bush campaign released a tape of the phone call, in which a male voice criticizes Bush for appearing at Bob Jones University and says a past president of the school called the Catholic Church "a satanic cult."

McCain spokesman Howard Opinsky said the campaign "is not making any such calls." Earlier this week, however, a senior adviser to McCain -- speaking on condition of anonymity -- said the campaign did plan to use phone banks to let Michigan Catholics know about Bush's visit to the university.

As he leveled his charges against McCain, Bush sought to distance himself from pre-recorded calls by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson that described former Sen. Warren Rudman (R-New Hampshire), McCain's national campaign chairman, as "a vicious bigot."

"We have nothing to do with that. Mr. Robertson made these calls on his own," Bush said.

Rudman angered leaders of the religious right in 1995 by defending retired Gen. Colin Powell against criticism of Powell's pro-choice stance. He subsequently wrote about the controversy in a book, saying there were many "bigots" in the religious right movement.

Opinsky said the Robertson calls were an example of the Bush campaign using outside groups to make "totally false allegations against John McCain. It's the same tactics they used in South Carolina."

CNN's Patty Davis, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.