John McCain will survive politically again.

The only question today will be how many percentage points in which he hammers J.D. Hayworth in the Arizona Republican primary tonight.

There are probably other politicians with similar comeback stories such as McCain’s, but I can’t think of many.

I interviewed him once as a young reporter in Myrtle Beach, SC.

It was 2002 and the senator was in town for a speaking engagement.

It was about two years after George W. Bush derailed McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign with a series of (to some) controversial ads.

He was very calm and pleasant.

As I recall, he still has trouble with his right arm and right side of his body due to injuries sustained in the Vietnam War.

I remember it being noticeable when I tried to shake his hand.

As a Republican with ambition for a national campaign, he needed to be seen in South Carolina.

He wasn’t planning on running in ‘04 of course, but I remember thinking at the time that he’ll probably run again in ‘08.

He survived that 2000 Republican primary debacle and won the nomination in 2008.

He won despite prominent conservative voices such as Limbaugh, Hannity, and Ingraham trying their best to keep him off the Republican ticket.

McCain survived the conservative base attacks in ‘08 and, yes, he did get pummelled in the general election but he’ll comeback to defend his seat today.

Politically—- McCain’s story is one of shifting and morphing to Washington politics—- compromise (which some of you will see as good and others bad).

Personally—- John McCain’s story is one of tenacity, one of my favorite qualities. You get knocked down, you get right back up. As a guy that’s had to develop thick skin and tenacity in 11 years in this business, I really respect that personal quality of John McCain. Tenacity I believe is one of those qualities your parents or mentors can’t teach you.

You must learn tenacity through adversity and John McCain certainly has.