As the presidential election grows ever closer, Meghan McCain is using her past experiences with politics to shape her approach to the upcoming vote.
“Who we vote for is who we are and what we believe,” McCain said. “You have to love and support and respect people’s political beliefs.”
McCain’s visit to University Chapel on Oct. 3 began with an interview between McCain and Contact Committee members. McCain recalled her upbringing, saying she didn’t quite understand her father’s importance until he hosted the popular late night show Saturday Night Live.
The late Sen. John McCain ran for president the first time when Meghan McCain was just 13 years old. Two election cycles later, he would reach the top of the Republican presidential ticket, and McCain, who had recently graduated from Columbia University, joined her father’s efforts and wrote a blog chronicling the events of the campaign.
McCain’s blog went on to win multiple awards. During the campaign, McCain released a picture book titled, “My Dad, John McCain,” and became a New York Times best-selling author.
Despite her personal connection to the campaign trail, McCain said she’s not endorsing either major party candidate this year. She said former President Donald Trump is never going to be for her, and she is uncomfortable with Vice President Kamala Harris due to her lack of participation in interviews.
“She is one of the few political commentators I’ve seen who is not voting for either candidate,” said Charles Boardman, ’28. “I admire her for being so principled.”
In the midst of a heated election season, McCain also discussed how to deal with political criticism and division in her own family.
“It is a really intense bloodsport,” McCain said. “You need really thick crocodile skin.” She explained that her popularity is a trade off, as although she faces criticism when she speaks, people listen to her.
Jimmy McCain, Meghan McCain’s brother, recently endorsed Harris. When asked about how she handles this decision, she said she truly tries to not let politics affect her personal life.
McCain then reacted to the recent vice presidential debate between Sen. JD Vance and Gov. Tim Walz. She said she was surprised at how unprepared Walz seemed to be and thought that Vance had a much more impressive performance.
The topic then pivoted to the future, with a brief discussion over centrism and its role in politics going forward. She currently resides in Virginia, and brought up the commonwealth’s governor, Glenn Youngkin, who she said was able to win his race by placing himself as a moderate.
In reference to the 2024 Republican Primary, McCain believes that had former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley or Gov. Ron DeSantis won the nomination, they would have been far more formidable in the general election.
When looking ahead to 2028, McCain said that the most obvious contenders for the nomination often don’t become the nominee. Her own father won an upset in the 2000 New Hampshire primary and saw speculation about challenging the eventual winner throughout the rest of the primaries, but did not go on to lead the ticket that year.
The event was then turned over to the audience members to ask questions. When asked about who the exciting up and coming candidates are, McCain mentioned Tulsi Gabbard, Sen. Katie Britt, and Virginia’s Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears who cannot run for president as she was born in Jamaica.
McCain was also asked about her relationship with President Joe Biden, who gave a eulogy at her fathers memorial in 2018 and whose son, Beau, died from the same type of brain cancer as the late Senator McCain.
In processing her grief, Biden was very helpful, McCain said. But during the 2020 election, Biden’s team reached out for an endorsement, and when she declined, they have not spoken since.
Throughout McCain’s visit, she elicited laughter from the crowd while managing to address serious topics with real world consequences. She even revealed to the Washington and Lee community that in addition to turning down Dancing with the Stars three times, she recently declined to participate on The Masked Singer.
McCain’s visit to Washington and Lee marked the beginning of Parents and Family Weekend. Other events over the course of the weekend included open houses for different departments and luncheons and dinners in support of different causes at the university.
