Senator John McCain says he regrets choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate
Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Saturday said that he regrets choosing former Republican Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate during the 2008 presidential campaign, according to reports.
McCain, in his upcoming book "The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and other Appreciations," reportedly said that he wishes he had selected former Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) as his running mate instead, according to the New York Times. McCain, however, defended Palin's performance during the presidential run.
Reports state that McCain's advisers had warned him against choosing Lieberman arguing that the latter's support for abortion rights could divide Republicans at the time of polling. Lieberman was once a Democrat before becoming Independent.
McCain, in his book, writes: "It was sound advice that I could reason for myself. But my gut told me to ignore it and I wish I had." The book is scheduled to be released on May 22.
The Arizona Senator also made the reference in a new HBO documentary, saying that not choosing Lieberman as his running mate in 2008 was "another mistake" that he had made in his political career, according to reports.
Lieberman responded to McCain's comments and told the Times that he was greatly touched by his statement and by the documentary.
"It touched me greatly," Lieberman said.
Reports state that the former Connecticut senator visited 81-year-old McCain recently at his ranch in Arizona. McCain is reportedly recovering from his brain cancer treatment and surgery for an infection.
According to certain excerpts released from McCain's upcoming memoir, the Arizona senator does not know how much time he has left to live as he battles glioblastoma. He was diagnosed with the condition in 2017.
McCain, in his memoir, has also taken digs at President Donald Trump.
Reports state that he has written that the Republican president appears to care more about the "appearance of toughness" than American values. The senator, in his book, also chides Trump's coziness with the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
McCain's statement about Palin however did not go down well with her supporters who took to Twitter to express their displeasure:
"WHO DOES McCAIN THINK HE'S KIDDING? @SarahPalinUSA brought energy & excitement to his otherwise dull and boring campaign. His fundraising lagged until Palin came on board. McCain suspended his campaign and we have HIM to thank for 8 years of Obama," Twitter user David A Clarke Jr. wrote.