Opinion: John McCain’s ‘Straight Talk Express’ goes to the air

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Aboard the ‘Straight Talk Express’ -- No one cracked a bottle of Champagne on its nose. No one cut a ribbon. Perhaps that was because the maiden voyage of John McCain’s new campaign plane was missing one vital ingredient: the senator himself.

McCain’s new 95-seat Boeing 737-400 left Washington this morning carrying journalists and staffers to Harrisburg, Pa., where McCain had spent the night. The plane, paid for by the campaign (media riders reimburse the campaign for their shares), had been refurbished to re-create an airborne version of the Straight Talk Express bus, McCain’s signature campaign vehicle, and replaced a plane leased from Jet Blue.

As always, press rides in the back, Secret Service agents in the middle cabin, and the candidate in first class. To replicate the horseshoe shaped banquette of the bus, where the candidate engages in free-wheeling discussions with reporters, one of the forward cabins has been modified to include a captain’s chair for McCain and a straight banquette for the press. FAA regulations require clear aisles, so a curved bench was out.

The plane’s outer shell was repainted, as well, with McCain’s motto ‘Reform, Prosperity, Peace’ on the side and the campaign’s Web address -- www.johnmccain.com -- on the blue-and-gold tail. McCain got his first ride for the short hop from Harrisburg to Allentown, Pa., and apparently missed some of the most salient exterior décor.

‘I thought it just says ‘Straight Talk Express,’ ‘ he told reporters who asked how it felt to see his name emblazoned on the tail. ‘Whoops. I feel wonderful ... Maybe it’s a little added free publicity, I don’t know, at various airports.’

There is one thing he’ll miss about his old Jet Blue-leased plane, though, and he’ll be feeling the loss starting Tuesday, when he is scheduled to fly from Indianapolis to Cartagena, Colombia, for a trip that will include a stop in Mexico.

‘In interest of full disclosure,’ said McCain, ‘you know we used to have television sets on Jet Blue, and I miss out on my fix.’

-- Robin Abcarian