Joe McCain visits campus

Joe McCain, the younger brother of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, rallied Liberty University students in a guest appearance at Friday’s convocation.

As Joe McCain outlined his brother’s actions as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, he summed the message up in three words: “This is character.”

He spoke of the challenging days this country is heading toward, adding that Americans have come through tough times before and emerged with strength. How well our country fares through the struggles depends upon leadership, he said.

Campaigns are not won with money or competing ads, he emphasized.

“They’re won by people like you who leave places like this with a mission and a message. You go vote. You go convince your other voters to vote. You tell them that it’s crucial to vote for John McCain at this time.”

He also had a message for Osama Bin Laden and the others who helped him perform acts of terrorism on Sept. 11, 2001.

“You tell them there is no place to hide from John McCain.”

Joe McCain served aboard the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier during Vietnam. He is also a stage actor, a POW advocate and former newspaper reporter. He was also on campus for a rally sponsored by Liberty University College Republicans later in the day.