Transcript of McCain's Interview on CBS' "Early Show"

HARRY SMITH, co-host:

Yesterday I sat down with Senator McCain for an exclusive interview. I asked
him about some of his supporters who are moving toward Barack Obama because of
the negativity of the McCain campaign.

Senator JOHN McCAIN: Well, I think that whatever is on people's minds is
valid, but the thing that's intriguing about it, Senator Obama has spent more
money on negative attack ads than any political--presidential campaign in
history. In history.

SMITH: Because even Sarah Palin has come out and said she would prefer that
the robocalls stop. Your robocalls.

Offscreen Voice: (From robocall) I'm calling for John McCain and the RNC,
because you need to know that Barack Obama has worked closely with domestic
terrorist Bill Ayers.

Sen. McCAIN: Well, Sarah is a--is a maverick. That robocall is absolutely
accurate. And by the way, Senator Obama's campaign is running robocalls as we
speak. I'm sure that Sarah and I have disagreed on some issues and, you know,
to think that somehow that we are saying something that's not true in those
calls is absolutely false. He was friends with a terrorist and his wife. He
was. And we need to know the full relationship.

SMITH: Your own people have said, `Well, if it's about the economy, that's
not a--that's not an argument that I can win with the American people.'

Sen. McCAIN: Oh, that's simply not true. That's simply not true.

SMITH: Right. Do you...

Sen. McCAIN: We've been focusing on the economy. Listen to me, I'm the
candidate.

SMITH: Hm. Right.

Sen. McCAIN: And this campaign is about the economy.

SMITH: A lot of Republican pundits in the last couple of weeks have said that
your choice of a vice presidential candidate, of Sarah Palin, has been a
disaster. If in fact you found out that her candidacy cost you the election,
would you still say it was the right choice?

Sen. McCAIN: Harry, look, come to one of the rallies with me. You'll see
the ignition out there and the passion and the incredible intensity out there
for Sarah Palin.

Governor SARAH PALIN: (At rally) Are you ready to make John McCain the next
president of the United States of America?

Sen. McCAIN: If someone thinks that somehow she was unqualified, that's
their opinion. But that doesn't stack up on paper. I mean, the most popular
governor in America, I'm proud to have, and I think she's--she and her husband
and her family are just wonderful.

SMITH: Can you reassure the American people right now that your health is
what it needs to be in order to take office, and not be concerned that it will
become a factor should you become president of the United States?

Sen. McCAIN: Have you seen me the last two years, huh? Twenty-four seven,
out there day after day in the grind. Look, I hiked the Grand Canyon from rim
to rim a couple of summers ago with my son. I'll--listen, I'll invite any of
the people who are reporting on that to come out and stick with me and hang
with me on the trail.

SMITH: It was very interesting to watch you at the Al Smith dinner the other
night.

Sen. McCAIN: Mm-hmm.

SMITH: And some people said, `That's the John McCain'--what? Well, you're
giving me the--giving me the grimace.

Sen. McCAIN: I've heard that, too. Yeah.

SMITH: Yeah.

Sen. McCAIN: (From speech) Even in this room full of proud Manhattan
Democrats, I can't--I can't shake that feeling that some people here are
pulling for me.

I'm delighted to see you here tonight, Hillary.

SMITH: That, `That's the John McCain I know, that's the John McCain that we
liked so much from the past.'

Sen. McCAIN: Mm-hmm.

SMITH: Are there different John McCains? Are there different aspects of your
personality?

Sen. McCAIN: I'm a pretty good stand-up comic. Times are too serious for
stand-up comedy. This is serious business. And there are real issues here,
and there's real problems out there. And somebody who's about to lose their
home probably might enjoy that routine at the Al Smith dinner, but that's not
what they want to hear from me on the campaign trail.

SMITH: And that's certainly not what they're going to hear in the last couple
of days.

So interesting, all right, 72 years old. We've been on and off the campaign
trail, as you have with him, over the last year or so. He is as vigorous, as
committed, as focused as I've seen him in the last year.

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ, co-host:

You took the words right out of my mouth.

SMITH: Mm-hmm.

RODRIGUEZ: That's exactly what I was going to say watching him. And you and
I have talked to him so many times...

SMITH: Mm-hmm.

RODRIGUEZ: ...that's about as energized and upbeat as I have seen him yet. I
really think he does relish--mind you, not that he likes, I'm sure...

SMITH: Right.

RODRIGUEZ: ...but relishes this underdog status.

SMITH: Seems to function in that role pretty well.