Arizona Sen. John McCain triumphantly reached the age of 80 Monday, in spite of the many journalists who once predicted in ’08 he’d never make it another eight years.
During his failed bid for the presidency, mainline journalists reported, with profound seriousness of purpose, that the Arizona Republican may not survive to the end of his presidency, should he prevail. The senator’s health, ravaged by years of tedious committee hearings and access to the best healthcare on earth, was the subject of much press attention.
“1 in 4 chance McCain may not survive 2nd term,” an Associated Press headline read.
“Odds 1-in-3 that McCain may not reach 80,” said a report from United Press International.
The wire reports were syndicated by NBC News, the Huffington Post, and numerous local papers. Politico published its own report on the subject under the title “McCain and the politics of mortality.” (RELATED: Flashback: When The Media Embraced McCain ’08 Health Conspiracies)
His birthday comes one day before he will stand in the Arizona Republican Senate primary. He is heavily favored to defeated his upstart rival Kelli Ward, a former state legislator and physician running a challenge in the mold of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. She too has expressed concern about McCain’s health. He has survived four terms in the Senate.
“I’m older than dirt, more scars than Frankenstein, but I learned a few things along the way,” he has said of his health in the past.
McCain, by a super indulgence of divine favor, was still alive when this story was filed. His mother, Roberta, is also still living at age 104.
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