PHOENIX, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has decided to begin building a formal organization for the 2008 presidential race, ABC News reported.
Citing sources close to the senator, ABC said McCain and his advisers met Wednesday in Phoenix to discuss setting up an exploratory committee. McCain said he does not expect to make a final decision on running until after discussions with his wife, Cindy.
McCain and those close to him see the results of Tuesday's election as encouraging in spite of the Democratic takeover of both houses of Congress. Independent voters swung heavily toward the Democrats in a rejection of President George W. Bush.
"No question. I think voters said they want independence, they want bipartisanship, and they want a voice of moral authority on Iraq, and John McCain is all three," said Mark McKinnon, who was a Bush media adviser in the 2004 campaign.
McCain has some problems, ABC noted. He is 70 and would be the oldest person ever elected president, if he were to win. He also lacks support among social conservatives and anti-tax diehards in the Republican Party, the network said.
