McCain shares Palin's view on tea party influence

[October 19, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. John McCain says he shares Sarah Palin's opinion that Republican congressional candidates could suffer at the polls if they stray from the tea party's anti-spending, anti-tax message.

McCain tells ABC's "Good Morning America" he believes Palin correctly asserts the danger of failing to hew to tea party themes that "struck a chord" with angry voters.

The Arizona Republican said that when Republicans gained majorities in Congress in 1994, "they betrayed our base, particularly in the area of fiscal responsibility" and were repudiated in the next two elections.

McCain said, "What Sarah is saying is, 'We've got to get fiscally responsible Republicans in.' " Palin, then the governor of Alaska, was McCain's vice presidential running mate two years ago.

[Associated Press]

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