McCain to release medical records
PHOENIX (Reuters) - Republican John McCain will release 400pages of medical records on Friday to try to put to restlingering questions about his health and ability to handle therigors of the presidency.
McCain will be 72 in August and the oldest American everelected to a first presidential term if he wins the Novemberelection.
One source of concern about McCain for many Americans ishis age, and McCain has sought to address any questions bypursuing a vigorous campaign, but until now has not releaseddetailed information about his health.
He is doing so under tightly controlled circumstances onthe Memorial Day holiday weekend. A small group of reporterswill be allowed to study the documents for three hours at ahotel conference room near a branch of the Mayo Clinic inArizona. They may take notes but cannot make copies.
The Arizona senator had major surgery on his face in 2000for melanoma, a potentially lethal form of skin cancer. Thesurgery left a noticeable scar and bulge down the left side ofhis face.
His body also bears the scars of the five-and-a-half yearshe spent in a Vietnam prisoner of war camp. He suffered brokenbones when his plane was shot down over Hanoi and as a captive,he was beaten regularly.
The documents will include details about the melanomasurgery. They cover the period from 2000 to 2008. McCain gets aregular check-up by a skin doctor and no problems havesurfaced.
McCain said to expect no surprises from the documents.
"I think it's obviously, as you'll see, excellent," McCaintold reporters of his health on Thursday in Stockton,California.
He talked as if he would make an issue of his experiencegained from age compared to what he called Obama's youth andinexperience. Obama is 46.
"I admire and respect Senator Obama," McCain toldsupporters at a rally in Stockton. "For a young man with verylittle experience, he's done very well."
While reporters are scouring his medical history, McCainhimself will kick off a long Memorial Day weekend in which hewill host at least three potential vice presidential candidatesat his Sedona, Arizona, ranch.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Florida Gov. CharlieCrist and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal are expected to be onhand for a barbecue that the McCain campaign said was arrangedto thank a number of people who have been helpful to McCain'spresidential run.
McCain insisted on Thursday that it was purely a socialouting. The menu is to include chicken and ribs.
"It's just having a group of friends for Memorial Dayweekend to visit us and enjoy one of the most beautiful placesin America. It's no more, and no less," said McCain.
(Editing by Eric Walsh)
(To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visitReuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online athttp:/blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)