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NORWALK, Conn. U.S. Sen. John McCain inspired local Republicans Monday in Norwalk, taking shots at President Barack Obama as he rallied the Republican troops in support of Senate candidate Linda McMahon at the Norwalk Inn & Conference Center.
"She can attack what is plaguing America today, and that is too much government, too much regulation, too much Obamacare, too much stimulus, too much of the debt that went from $10 trillion to $16 trillion on this president's watch," said McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate. "We have now got a debt of $51,000 for every man, woman and child in America. That's got to change, or we're going to be Greece."
Up to 300 people attended the McMahon campaign event.
While McMahon attacked U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy's record on defense spending, his support of Obamacare and his votes to tax the middle class, McCain said nothing specific about her Democratic opponent.
"I am excited about the experience, knowledge and background that she brings to the United States Senate," McCain said of McMahon. "I believe that she will have an instant impact on the United States Senate because she knows what the economy and growth and jobs is all about.
"She understands, like Mitt Romney understands, that it's not the government that creates jobs, it's business that creates jobs. ... When she is the 51st vote in the United States Senate we are going to repeal and replace Obamacare."
McMahon said she wants to be the first female senator from Connecticut, helping McCain to lead the country in the right direction. "He's a senator that's an independent thinker, and I'm an independent thinker," she said.
Barbara Keogh of Norwalk was among those watching McCain, "an American hero," and supporting McMahon. "I think she's going to do something for us, as far as Social Security and Medicare," she said. "I'm on her side."
"Anything with John McCain," said Joe Lawler of Milford. "Boy, what a man, what a man."
"I respect her as a business woman, said Marcia Lawler of Milford.
Jim Gardella said McCain is a "great man" and a hero. McMahon is an "absolutely wonderful person" with "the right ideas to turn our economy around."
"Every business that I've talked to, everybody's negative because nothing's happening," said Gardella, owner of Norwalk Yachts and a partner at Norwalk Cove Marina. He added that no one had bought a boat at the recent Norwalk Boat Show. "We need to make something happen," he said.
Correction made, 9:50 a.m.
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