Making it clear: McCain tells New Hampshire veterans he won’t be running for president again

McCain to NH vets: Won’t run for president again

NASHUA, N.H. — If John McCain hadn’t made it clear before, he’s leaving no doubt that the presidency is a dream gone by.

Addressing a veterans rally for a Republican Senate candidate in Nashua on Saturday, the Arizona senator was reminiscing about his presidential campaigns in New Hampshire, where he won the Republican primaries in 2000 and 2008.

He told the audience of 200 that “this may surprise you, but I will not be running for president again.” He promised, though, that he will do everything in his power to make sure New Hampshire maintains its first-in-the-nation presidential primary status.

The Republican will be 76 in 2012, the next presidential election.

It was McCain’s second trip to the state to campaign for Kelly Ayotte.