Sen. John McCain says Republican Mitt Romney has to sell his message about jobs and the economy to women and Hispanics this November if he wants to beat President Barack Obama.
McCain, who led an unsuccessful bid against Obama in 2008, also said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Missouri Rep. Todd Akin should “abandon his quest for the United States Senate” because of his ill-informed comments on rape.
Romney has been at a disadvantage in the campaign so far because of Obama's aggressive ad campaign that suggests Romney is out of touch with the average voter.
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But McCain says he thinks that perception will change as Romney gets a chance to go more on the offensive.
McCain said Romney must convince women and Hispanic voters that his ability to create jobs and improve the economy is "more important than other issues."
He said that Missouri Senate candidate Akin should recognize that the party nomination is a privilege “and if you abuse that privilege, then you are not eligible to keep it.”
The 2008 Republican presidential nominee said that Akin will not be able to count on the GOP.
“What he said was unacceptable, and we Republicans have to consider all options to start with making sure Mr. Akin knows he will not have the support of the mainstream Republican Party or any of our organizations.”
McCain brushed off Mitt Romney’s off-the-cuff remark about birth certificates and called it an “attempt at humor.” Romney, who is poised to accept the Republican Party’s presidential nomination this week, said at a campaign rally Friday “no one’s ever asked to see my birth certificate.”
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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