McCain talks up vouchers, praises Obama to NAACP

CINCINNATI -- John McCain won plaudits if not support Wednesday for addressing some of opponent Barack Obama's strongest supporters: The NAACP.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee spoke to the nation's oldest civil rights organization, spotlighting his support for school vouchers to help low-income families send children to private or charter schools — a popular program among many African-Americans dealing with struggling public schools.

He also heaped rare praise on Obama, who addressed the group Monday.

"Don't tell him I said this, but he is an impressive fellow in many ways," McCain said to laughter and light applause. "His success should make Americans, all Americans proud. Of course, I would prefer his success not continue quite as long as he hopes. But it does makes you and me proud to know the country I've loved and served all my life is still a work in progress, and always improving. Sen. Obama talks about making history, and he's made quite a bit of it already."

The audience of about 3,000 people greeted McCain with applause, listened to him politely and gave him a brief standing ovation when he finished. He took a half-dozen questions after finishing his prepared remarks, including from one woman sporting an Obama T-shirt.

Still, the audience showed little of the energy and enthusiasm that greeted Obama, and there were empty seats scattered throughout the convention hall.

"It's good that he is appearing and willing to reach out," says C. Frederick Robinson, a lawyer from Flint, Mich. So which candidate will he vote for in November? "Obama," he replies, looking surprised that the question would even have to be asked. "That's a given."

McCain faces a Herculean task in appealing to black voters, a group that overwhelmingly supports Obama, the first African-American to clinch a major party's presidential nomination. In a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll last month, McCain led Obama among whites, 48%-42%. Among blacks, Obama swamped McCain, 90%-2%.

Of 138 African Americans surveyed, just one said he or she was certain to vote for the Republican.

Even if he wins few black votes, McCain's willingness to address the largely black audience could help him among white voters concerned about racial reconciliation. A study by political scientists at the University of Michigan and University of Texas after the 2000 election concluded that the appearance by then-Texas governor George W. Bush before the NAACP helped him among some white voters, particularly women.

"Part of the natural dynamic of this year has been 'What is the state of race relations?'" says Republican pollster David Winston. "If McCain were not to show up, I think it would, on the Republican side, exacerbate the older images of the Republican party. For him to be successful, he's going to have to overturn those."

McCain made a relatively low-key bid for support, talking about the need for fiscal discipline, expanded energy exploration and education reform.

On Monday, Obama had offered a sort of prebuttal to McCain's expected comments to the group. "Now, I understand that Senator McCain is going to be coming here in a couple of days and talking about education, and I'm glad to hear it," Obama said in his speech. "But the fact is, what he's offering amounts to little more than the same tired rhetoric about vouchers."

Obama added, "We need to fix and improve our public schools, not throw our hands up and walk away from them."

McCain told the same group, "Over the years, Americans have heard a lot of 'tired rhetoric' about education," including "endless excuses" for the failures of some public schools.

"When a public system fails, repeatedly, to meet … minimal objectives, parents ask only for a choice in the education of their children," McCain said. "Some parents may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private school. Many will choose a charter school. No entrenched bureaucracy or union should deny parents that choice and children that opportunity."

McCain made a humorous reference to his failure to show up at last year's NAACP convention, when none of the major Republican contenders but all the Democratic ones addressed the forum.

"I hope you'll excuse me for passing on the opportunity at your convention last year and not being here," he said. "As you might recall, I was a bit distracted at the time dealing with what reporters uncharitably described as an implosion in my campaign. But I'm very glad you invited me again."