McCain appears on Letterman show, hat in hand
He tells the late-night host he 'screwed up' when he canceled last month.
NEW YORK — John McCain tried to make amends with David Letterman on Thursday, telling the late-night comedian that he "screwed up" when he stood him up last month to focus on the economic crisis.
McCain's appearance on "Late Show With David Letterman" -- his 13th time on the CBS program -- came after Letterman mocked him for three weeks and suggested his decision to suspend his campaign because of the Wall Street meltdown was merely a political maneuver.
The Republican presidential nominee took extra precautions to ensure that he made Thursday's long-awaited visit, traveling from Philadelphia by helicopter to skirt a weather delay.
When the candidate walked onto the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater, he pretended to cower as Letterman strode over to greet him.
"Can you stay?" the comedian asked as McCain settled into his chair.
"Yes, sir," responded McCain. He then added with a grin, "Depends on how bad it gets."
The Arizona senator said he had asked his son, who is in the Marine Corps, to FedEx him his helmet and flak jacket for the occasion, "but it didn't get here on time."
McCain was supposed to make an appearance on the show Sept. 24 but canceled at the last minute.
At the time, he told Letterman that he was catching a plane to return to Washington to deal with the burgeoning financial crisis. But Letterman was steamed to discover that McCain in fact remained in New York another day. Instead of visiting the "Late Show" studio that afternoon, the candidate made a stop at CBS News several blocks away to give an interview to anchor Katie Couric.
The incident ruptured a long-amiable relationship between the two men, who had been so friendly that McCain chose Letterman's show as the forum to announce his 2008 presidential bid.
Letterman appeared offended by McCain's behavior. The day after the senator stood him up, Letterman told his audience that when McCain first told him he had to cancel to deal with the economic meltdown, "I felt like a patriot."
"And now I'm just feeling like an ugly date," he said.
At Friday's taping, Letterman wasted no time in confronting his guest.
"Now what exactly happened?" he asked McCain. "I got to think, well, maybe I'm just not important enough."
"I screwed up," responded the senator. He shrugged and opened his arms apologetically, adding, "But look at all the conversation I gave you."
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