Bud Day Watches Friend McCain Win State

Jan 30, 12:46 PM

Jan. 30--Retired Air Force Col. George "Bud" Day admitted he was "sitting on pins and needles" Tuesday while waiting to see if his friend, U.S. Sen. John McCain, could eke out the Florida primary.

McCain did better than that, taking about 36 percent of the Republican votes.

Mitt Romney, McCain's nearest competitor, managed about 31 percent. Former New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani was a distant third with 15 percent.

"I feel very good about this," Day said after it was clear McCain had won. "I'm satisfied Florida and the country will be proud of their decision."

The Congressional Medal of Honor recipient spoke as he listened to national media pundits say that Romney might close the race by winning in Northwest Florida. He scoffed at that notion.

Day proved correct. McCain won Walton, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties.

"I think that's just what we expected," Day said when the region's vote totals were revealed. "That (losing to Romney) would not have happened here with John being the military person he is." Military bases, including massive Eglin Air Force Base, dot Northwest Florida. Day and the Arizona senator spent years together in a North Vietnamese prison camp. Day has supported his friend's political career ever since.

McCain's win helped secure a big political day for Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist endorsed McCain and supported the Amendment 1 tax reform proposal. He won both.

State Sen. Don Gaetz, also a McCain supporter, said he'd learned that more than 50 percent of Florida's voters interviewed Tuesday said Crist's endorsements had positively influenced them.

"The governor is two-for-two tonight. He put his popularity on the line for John McCain and for the yes vote," Gaetz said.

Crist's support for McCain could bode well for him if McCain winds up with the Republican nomination, Gaetz said.

"This guarantees that if McCain gets the nomination Charlie Crist is on a short list" of candidates for vice president, Gaetz said.

Daily News staff writer Tom McLaughlin can be reached at 863-1111 Ext. 1435.

-----

To see more of the Northwest Florida Daily News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.nwfdailynews.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. Bud Day Watches Friend McCain Win State
Back to Current Headlines