McCain is scheduled to fly Sunday to Asheville, N.C., to meet privately with the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham. The younger Graham met this month with McCain's rival, presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama, who has launched his own effort to court skeptical evangelical leaders.
McCain told the activists Thursday that he also hoped to meet with James C. Dobson, founder of the influential group Focus on the Family, who has said he would not vote for McCain. "The senator spoke fondly of him, but believes there's probably room for some bridge-building," said Mike Gonidakis, head of Ohio Right to Life.
Participants said McCain took detailed notes and listened intently. McCain's aides said they were satisfied with the meeting, and one called it "successful."
Lori Viars, who heads the Family First political action committee, expressed her strong desire that McCain name a "consistent conservative" to be his running mate.
Gonidakis said McCain "agreed that having a conservative running mate was important, having a pro-life running mate was important."
McCain listened as one of the country's leading opponents of using embryonic stem cells, Dr. John Willke, made the case for relying on adult cells. Some scientists have reported finding ways to manipulate human skin cells to have properties similar to embryonic stem cells.
Several participants said McCain did not offer any indication he would change his mind, but they said they were impressed that he appeared open to Willke's points.
"It appears as if he's willing to at least look at the science and decide which way he goes from there," Gonidakis said.
McCain did resist the group at one point when he was asked to showcase his family more as he campaigns. The senator responded that he was concerned about drawing attention to his son, a Marine who has served in Iraq, and did not want to put him in danger.
But even as McCain charmed the group, several participants said he was far from solving his problems in Ohio or with social conservatives more broadly.
Viars said she was "holding out" to see who McCain picks for his ticket before she decides whether to volunteer for the campaign, as she did for Bush.
Others said McCain can't win evangelicals merely by meeting with them privately; he has to embrace them publicly. "We told him that if he didn't come out and share his pro-family stances on these issues, then he can kiss Ohio goodbye," Burress said. "We can't deliver his message for him."
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peter.wallsten@latimes.com
bob.drogin@latimes.com
