Goode won’t endorse McCain ... yet

By Bernard Baker

Published: June 13, 2008

Republican presidential candidate John McCain should not hold his breath while waiting for an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode.

“The Hill,” a political insider guide, reports that Goode, R-5th, is among at least 14 Republican representatives who have not endorsed McCain.

U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., has said he can’t back McCain until he has clear plans for the Iraq war, another representative has cited concerns about the candidate’s various energy policies and in Goode’s case, immigration is a sticking point.

Goode was not bashful when he talked about the major GOP contenders before the Arizona senator became the presumptive nominee. He gave contributions to Tom Tancredo, Duncan Hunter and Ron Paul.

“Between Sen. Barack Obama and Senator McCain, I would vote for Senator McCain, but I’m not making an endorsement at this time,” Goode said Thursday.

Goode disagrees with McCain on immigration, even though McCain is moving more to the right on this issue. In addition, McCain does not support drilling for oil in Alaska or off the Virginia-Carolina coast. Goode does.

“Drilling off the coast is essential to getting the price of gasoline and diesel down,” Goode said.

Goode said Obama is too liberal to support for president. He said Obama’s immigration policy would lead to citizenship for millions of illegal aliens. Obama also is further away on environmental issues than Goode would like.

“I know Obama is a no-driller by the backing of the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters,” the congressman said.

A Virginia political analyst said Goode’s refusal to back McCain could be a problem down the road if McCain is elected president.

Virginia Tech political science professor Robert Denton said Goode’s move could be dangerous, indicating he might need a resource, or help with a fundraiser, and McCain might turn him down.

McCain has a good memory for people who’ve wronged him in the past, Denton said.

It won’t hurt 5th District voters, but Goode’s staff could find a McCain White House cold to helping the Rocky Mount Republican if he doesn’t voice his support for the presidential candidate.

“I could understand if Virgil were a Democrat and Obama was the nominee,” Denton said.

But he’s surprised Goode is withholding his support because a lot of Republicans are backing McCain, even if they’re not excited about him.

“What is to be gained by not giving one’s full support?” Denton said.