By Steve Holland
PHOENIX (Reuters) - Republican John McCain is in goodhealth and has had no signs of skin cancer since 2002, CBStelevision said medical records of the presidential candidateto be released on Friday will show.
CBS said McCain's doctor described him as "considerablyyounger than his chronological age based on his cardiovascularfitness."
The Arizona senator's health records will show that hisblood pressure and weight are healthy and he has occasionalbouts of dizziness when he stands suddenly but which tests haveshown are not a concern, CBS reported. He takes a commonmedication for cholesterol control, it said.
McCain is releasing his medical records to try to put torest lingering questions about his health and ability to handlethe rigors of the presidency.
McCain will be 72 in August and the oldest American everelected to a first presidential term if he wins the Novemberelection.
He had major surgery on his face in 2000 for melanoma, apotentially lethal form of skin cancer. The surgery left anoticeable scar and bulge down the left side of his face.
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.
His body also bears the scars of the 5 1/2 years he spentin a Vietnam prisoner of war camp. He suffered broken boneswhen his plane was shot down over Hanoi and as a captive, hewas 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 Jackie Frank and Bill Trott)
(To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visitReuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online athttp:/blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)
