book-signing was hardly what supporters of US Senator John McCain must have envisioned for his triumphal return to Massachusetts.
But that's exactly what the failed presidential candidate was up to yesterday, one month to the day after his victory in the state's Republican primary.
The event at the John F. Kennedy Library was really a quick publicity stop before McCain heads to Connecticut and Rhode Island, where he will endorse GOP Senate candidates who still have a chance at victory.
McCain, of Arizona, won all 37 of Massachusetts' Republican primary delegates, but his hopes of moving into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue died soon afterward, thanks to lackluster returns in New York and California.
Recently, McCain made an agreement with Governor Paul Cellucci to send seven supporters of rival George W. Bush to the GOP convention in Philadelphia.
But even if his Bay State support will be watered down at the convention, it was in full bloom yesterday, as nearly 400 supporters - many cradling new or dog-eared copies of his autobiography - cheered him on.
McCain, joined by his wife Cindy, exhibited plenty of his plain-spoken charm and wit, saying he was excited to be back in a state where his ideas met with overwhelming support. He said he was happy that ''all the major candidates have adopted [campaign finance] reform as part of their platform as well.''
''We lost the campaign, but we did not lose the crusade,'' said the former Navy flier and prisoner of war, eliciting cheers and applause. ''The crusade will go on.''
Many in the audience said they felt a personal attraction to McCain's tell-it-like-it-is ways and war heroics, and lined up in hopes of getting a personal inscription in their book.
Bill Fihlman of Wareham brought two copies of ''Faith of My Fathers'' for McCain to sign - one for himself, and one for his son, a naval officer training to be a pilot.
''After I read his book, I realized we were both at the same base during the war,'' said Fihlman, 54, who was an aircraft electrician stationed at Naval Air Station Cecil Fields in Florida. ''Everything he stands for, I feel similarly. I love him as a hero and I share his beliefs.''
