McCain guarantees New Hampshire victory

Resurgent GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) guaranteed Sunday that he would win the New Hampshire primary.

Earlier this year, McCain seemed to be on the ropes with poor showings in national polls and the fundraising race. However, the senator, who has admitted that mistakes had been made during the early parts of his campaign, has begun raising more money and has rebounded in national polls.

{mosads}McCain said the critical race in New Hampshire is “wide open” and pointed to the state’s independent electorate.

“A lot of people haven’t made up their minds,” McCain said on Fox News Sunday, before making his guarantee. “I can tell you right now I will win New Hampshire.”

However, McCain said that he would not drop out should his prediction turn out to be false.

The Arizona Republican has recently been more aggressive on the campaign trail, criticizing former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, two of his main rivals for the GOP nomination.

On Sunday, McCain argued that he is the only one of the trio “with any national security experience.”

“I know these issues. I was involved in them ranging from the Cuban missile crisis to the issues we face today,” McCain said. “That’s what my qualifications are, and I think it’s well to point out that neither Governor Romney nor Mayor Giuliani have any national security experience.”

Using the example of the situation in Pakistan, McCain noted that he knows President Pervez Musharraf, visited the country and understands the problems facing the country.

The senator stated his belief that his experience on national security issues will help him win in New Hampshire.

Asked about what he would do about Pakistan, McCain said he would not, at this point, withdraw aid to the country.

“If you play that last card and it doesn’t work, then obviously you have no leverage whatsoever,” the senator said, adding that he would advocate “intensive behind-the-scenes negotiations” to show Musharraf that the “best thing for him, as well as the future of Pakistan, is to go ahead and schedule these elections and move forward with the democratic process.”