AIKEN MAYOR PRO-TEMPORE DICK SMITH ENDORSES JOHN MCCAIN FOR PRESIDENT

U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced that Dick Smith, Mayor Pro-Tempore of Aiken, SC, has endorsed John McCain for President of the United States.

"In my life, I have had the distinct opportunity of serving our nation in both the U.S. Marine Corps and the Foreign Service," said Smith. "Those experiences have brought me to the conclusion that John McCain is the best prepared candidate to lead our nation in these dangerous times."

After duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, Dick Smith attended Indiana University and the American Institute of Banking in Chicago before joining the U.S. State Department Foreign Service in 1951. He served in the Foreign Service for 29 years, with assignments in Sri Lanka, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Guyana, Egypt, Pakistan and India. In 2001, Mr. Smith was elected to the Aiken City Council. He was re-elected for in 2005. For the past two years, Mr. Smith has served as Mayor Pro-Tempore.

McCain thanked Mr. Smith saying, "Dick has a distinguished record of service to his community and to our country. I am grateful for his support, and I look forward to working with him in the coming weeks."