McCain's America Looks Like N.H., Only Bigger

Sen. John McCain is applying his primary-season strategy of town hall meetings to the nationwide race. At a forum in Round Rock, Tex., he was joined by Texas Gov. Rick Perry. (By Harry Cabluck -- Associated Press)

"What we went through, prior to the revival of the New Hampshire campaign, was a blessing in disguise," said Steve Duprey, one of McCain's top New Hampshire advisers. "The best way to run a McCain campaign is to have John McCain out there talking to voters. I don't think anyone in the campaign will forget that. Even if the scale is larger."

The scale is larger. In New Hampshire this year, McCain won the GOP primary thanks to about 80,000 voters, all living within a few hours' drive. In the general election, he faces the task of reaching tens of millions scattered across the country.

In Tyler on Wednesday morning, the audience was a bit bigger than his typical New Hampshire crowd.

"I did share those ditches with you in the muddy hills and valleys in Vietnam," said the first speaker. "All us veterans respect you and are ready to vote for you and expect you to be our next commander in chief." He went on to suggest a massive takeover of Iraq to "turn this thing around."

McCain deflected that suggestion, calling it "a radical solution." But first he was humble about his own service in Vietnam, where he was shot down and held prisoner for five years.

"I would remind you it doesn't take a lot of talent to get shot down," McCain said. "I was able to intercept a surface-to-air missile with my own airplane."

"I intercepted a round as well," the man responded.

"Thank you for serving. Semper Fi," McCain said.

On immigration, McCain told the audience that he would "secure the border first," but he made it clear that he is not in favor of deporting all illegal immigrants. "We are a humane, Judeo-Christian-value nation, and we will treat it in a humane way," he said.

Later in San Antonio, another speaker challenged him to explain his position on immigration.

"This meeting is adjourned," McCain deadpanned -- prompting laughter mainly because he is the last politician who would follow through on that threat.

He then proceeded to give a long answer to the question.