By By George L. Jones: special to the Standard
SELMA, Ala. - The mood in front of the Bridgetender's House at the St. James Hotel was a lot like the man who was the focal point of the morning - relaxed yet straightforward.
Sen. John McCain didn't go into a lot of detail Monday morning about issues concerning his platform. However, he seemed to have appeased his listeners with direct, concise answers.
Looking like anything but a stranger in a foreign land, the man who looks like the frontrunner for the Republican ticket in this year's presidential race began his journey through the heart of the Democratically-controlled Black Belt.
Shumate said he is not loyal to any party and attended the Arizona senator's speech because he didn't want to pass up on the chance to see a potential presidential candidate.
With Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, at his back, McCain talked about “Bloody Sunday” on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, border control, America's dependence on foreign oil, and the need to help both community colleges and small businesses.
McCain's speech on those issues kicked off his It's Time for Action Tour, which began in the Black Belt region and will continue through impoverished areas around the country. He said he is specifically targeting the areas that are “forgotten” by other candidates.
Henrietta Morgan, who said she would vote Republican, was glad to see the senator hadn't neglected areas where there is a Democratic stronghold.
Morgan also had some advice for potential candidates on both sides.