PHILADELPHIA -- John McCain concedes he still has work to do to persuade voters in America's Rust Belt, where the presidential election could be decided, that his support for free trade will benefit them, not just cost more jobs.
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Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., turns and waves from the doorway of his campaign jet before departing Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 1, 2008. [Agencies]
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Winding up a campaign swing through Pennsylvania, which has been hard hit by the loss of manufacturing jobs to Mexico and elsewhere, the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting pledged to improve programs for displaced workers and unemployment insurance if elected, but acknowledged that wouldn't be enough.
"I have to convince them the consequences of protectionism and isolationism could be damaging to their future," the Arizona senator said.
"I understand it's very tough. But for me to give up my advocacy of free trade would be a betrayal of trust," he said. "And the most precious commodity I have with the American people is that they trust me."
