AND there isn't any hanging chads!
John Rich performed at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium a month ago when Republican presidential candidate John McCain made a campaign stop at the historic venue.
Now the country singer has taken his support one step further by writing an official theme song for the Arizona senator, "Raising McCain," which Rich plans to debut today at a fundraiser in Panama City, Fla.
"I wanted to offer him something that he didn't have: a rally song, one that really captures that maverick spirit," John Rich told the Associated Press.
Not that McCain hasn’t tried different titles. Among the songs that he’s trotted out at various times are Chuck Berry’s "Johnny B. Goode," ABBA’s "Take A Chance On Me" and John Mellencamp’s "Pink Houses" and "Our Country." Mellencamp was not amused and asked McCain to stop using his songs.
John Rich considers it an honor to be connected to McCain, though the affiliation is not surprising. The singer performed previously at some fundraisers for former Republican candidate Fred Thompson. In addition, Big & Rich earned a meaty hit with "8th Of November," a song that honors the soldiers that fought in a specific battle during the Vietnam War. John McCain was held as a prisoner of war during that era, and it’s one of the things that John Rich finds inspiring about the candidate.
"This guy is a hero," the singer said. "He was physically tortured for years, and yet he gets out of bed every day and serves our country for decades."
The song might be made available to fans for free on the Internet.