Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, right, speaks to a cheering crowd with Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,during a campaign stop in Manchester, N.H., Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
by Jill Zuckman
MANCHESTER, N.H. – The talk at the town hall forum Wednesday night ran the gamut: Iraq, Ted Williams, Iran, A-Rod, global warming, Red Sox manager Terry Francona, health care, and left-fielder Manny Ramirez.
The stars of the show were Sen. John McCain and Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, who helped pack the house at the Derryfield School Auditorium so that the fire marshals stopped people at the door.
The voters seemed to be equally enthralled with both men, alternating questions between the two, from foreign policy to “what planet is Manny really from,” a reference to the quirky Red Sox player.
Schilling parried voters’ insults leveled at Ramirez, as well as Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees player and sometime Schilling antagonist. That led McCain to suggest, “I’m beginning to think Curt might have a future in politics.”
For Schilling’s part, he provided voters with a personal testimonial for McCain, someone he’s known since his days with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He confided to the audience that he’s “a latercomer to the political thing.” But he said the country ought to do better than electing the person they dislike least.
“I understand at the end of the day that he’s going to do what’s right for us,” Schilling said of McCain, citing his character, integrity and honesty. “I love the fact that he sits here and tells you, ‘I’m going to answer your question and it might not be what you want to hear.’ “