McCain Almost Took "One-Term" Pledge

"A one-term pledge was set to be the central thread of his presidential campaign, and Mark Salter, McCain's chief speechwriter, crafted an announcement speech around it.

But less than a day before he was set to speak in New Hampshire on April 25, McCain ordered his aides to excise the paragraphs describing the pledge.

"Lots of ideas get raised with the candidate. He made a decision and we didn't do it," Salter said in a brief telephone interview this afternoon. He said that "no speech is final until the candidate signs off."

Several of McCain's closest friends, including former Sen. Phil Gramm (R-TX) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) had urged him not to tie his hand by making a one-term pledge, and McCain agreed with them."