McCain softens no cooperation stance

WASHINGTON, March 28 (UPI) -- Sen. John McCain, in an interview with The Arizona Republic, has backed away from a statement that Republicans will not cooperate with Democrats.

McCain, R-Ariz., told radio station KFYI-AM, Phoenix, Monday that Democrats have "poisoned the well."

Asked if he thought Democrats were going to move forward on other items on President Barack Obama's agenda, such as immigration reform, McCain told the station, "They may, but there will be no cooperation for the rest of this year. They have poisoned the well in what they have done and how they have done it" in ramming through healthcare reform.

But his remarks drew fire from Tucson Vice Mayor Rodney Glassman.

Glassman, a Democrat exploring a possible Senate run this year, told supporters in an e-mail titled "McCain Calls it Quits," "John McCain says he is taking his toys and going home."

In his interview with The Arizona Republic from his Washington office, McCain said he was only talking about cooperation on major Democratic priorities and didn't mean there would be no bipartisan collaboration: "Look, we'll work together on anything that's important to the country. For example, we need to extend unemployment benefits because our unemployment is so high. Once it's paid for, we will support that. We will work together on issues that are important for the good of the country."