Thursdays With Roberta McCain

LA Times' Rainey couldn't get an interview with the Arizonan's 96-year-old mother through the campaign -- so he started going straight to the source and the two have talked once a week ever since.

"They've got me muzzled," said McCain, who picked up on the first ring when Rainey first called her residence in April.

In their weekly conversations, the two chat about her son's temper, running mates, age and more.