McCain's Marine son home from Iraq

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- GOP sources said Republican presidential front-runner John McCain told a meeting of House Republicans in Washington his son has arrived home from Iraq.

Three Republicans at the private event said the Arizona senator, who has been mum about his Marine son on the campaign trail, received a powerful standing ovation when he told the House Republican Conference his son, Jimmy, had arrived home from Iraq with his unit, CNN reported Thursday.

McCain said his son had reported encountering improvised explosive devices at every turn when he first arrived in the country seven months ago but has since seen the security situation improve to the point where he was able to hand out soccer balls to the locals, the sources said.