[Sen. McCain, chair of Senate Commerce, is dancing around the idea of running for president. Folks who are interested in privacy may remember that he was more than slightly involved in the McCain-Kerrey bill. His committee approved it, which derailed pro-crypto legislation in the Senate. Not only that, he seems to be holding onto the bill (not reporting it) to prevent any other committees from improving it. Judiciary in particular would like to consider it. Note they wouldn't make it a //good// bill, just not quite as bad. --Declan] *************** 19 MCCAIN: PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS? Washington Times' Hallow notes that "the first words" out of Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) mouth at a 9/19 luncheon with political reporters "alluded to his running for higher office." Noting that he had "slimmed down," McCain joked: "Anyone who wants to be emperor has to do that, and I'd much prefer that than president." McCain "acknowledged" that "he is positioning himself ideologically somewhere between" NC Sen. Jesse Helms and ex-MA Gov. Bill Weld (9/19). McCain responded to Hallow's story during C-SPAN's "Washington Journal": "I was asked if I was considering running for President of the United States and I said exactly what I've been saying for a long time now, exactly that. I said I will examine the option in 1998. ... I don't have a PAC, I don't have a committee, I don't have an organization. I don't have any of the accouterments that go to a presidential campaign and I don't intend to have one unless I decide to run" (9/19). USA Today's Lawrence profiles McCain. Does he think about running for president? "Nightly," he jokes. McCain "says the one-word description of his candidacy is 'impractical.' He reels off complications," from his Senate race, late start and opposition to ethanol subsidies to his support for MFN for China; "from the risque past he knows would arise in a national campaign to his sense that Americans do not long for 'something different than the standard politician'" (9/19).