McCain speaks of youth, puzzling analysts

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 1 (UPI) -- Republican presidential hopeful John McCain delivered a speech to his high school alma mater Tuesday, outlining his rebellious youth and military service.

The Arizona senator planned to tell an audience at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., that he was "a pretty rambunctious boy, with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder."

"If my detractors had known me at Episcopal they might marvel at the self-restraint and mellowness I developed as an adult," McCain said, according to prepared remarks. "Or perhaps they wouldn't quite see it that way."

McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has puzzled some political observers by not using the time the extended Democratic nomination battle has given him more wisely, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

McCain hasn't been able to capitalize fully on the Democratic nomination battle between Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., to get his message out to the voters and raise money, observers said.

McCain began his weeklong "Service to America" journey, putting him in places that influenced his life. His campaign says the tour is to provide voters a chance to get to know McCain better.