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McCain Enlists Troy King as Alabama PAC Chairman NewsMax.com Wires MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Potential presidential candidate John McCain has enlisted state Attorney General Troy King to serve as the Alabama chairman of a political action committee that McCain is using to help Republican candidates across the country, including Alabama.
McCain's Straight Talk America PAC has already distributed more than $150,000 to Republican candidates and county party organizations in Alabama, including a $10,000 donation to King's campaign.
"Sen. McCain understands the future of America is being shaped not just in the race for the White House, but in races for statehouses and courthouses all across America," King said in an interview Wednesday.
The Arizona senator is also planning a visit to Birmingham on Oct. 5 to help the Republican Party organizations in Jefferson and Shelby counties raise money, King said.
King, who was appointed attorney general by Gov. Bob Riley, is running for a full four-year term in the general election Nov. 7 against the Democratic nominee, Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson Jr.
Potential presidential candidates traditionally use the midterm elections to help fellow party members in expectation those people will help them two years later.
McCain was in Alabama last November to help George Wallace Jr. in his race for lieutenant governor. Wallace lost the Republican runoff to Luther Strange. The day after the runoff, McCain's PAC reported a $5,000 donation to Strange's campaign, according to campaign finance reports.
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Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is exploring a Republican bid for president, spoke to a state Republican Party dinner in Mobile in January.
Another potential presidential candidate, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., was in Alabama on Aug. 22 to endorse Strange and raise money for Republican legislative candidates.
McCain's PAC gets its name from the campaign bus he used in his 2000 race for president: the Straight Talk Express.
In recent months, his Straight Talk America PAC has reported contributing to many Alabama candidates, including $10,000 to Riley, $5,000 to U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus of Birmingham, $500 to $1,000 each to many Republican candidates for the Alabama Legislature, and $500 each to many county Republican organizations in the state.
King said he and McCain developed a friendship after the Arizona senator heard about his successful efforts to toughen the penalties for sexual offenders and child pornographers. Phone calls followed and then McCain asked him to be the first Alabama chairman for the PAC.
And why did King accept McCain's offer?
"He's somebody I have a lot of respect for," King said.
And how does King view McCain as a potential presidential candidate?
He said McCain has a "demonstrated record" of protecting America domestically and internationally, and he's committed to making sure America does "not allow the war on terror to be fought on our shores."
McCain issued a statement saying he is pleased to have King aboard. "His fearless and unwavering commitment to protecting Alabama families and communities will be a valuable asset for our organization's November election efforts," McCain said.
© 2006 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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