McCain polishing "green" credentials in WA visit

John McCain continued his overtures to "green" voters Tuesday, paying a soggy visit to the Cascade Range foothills and further driving an environmental wedge between himself and the Bush administration.

Expanding his national campaign as the presumptive Republican nominee, McCain promoted his plans for dealing with global warming and promoting nuclear power, and said his stance reflects "long-standing, significant, deep" differences with President Bush on the environment.

"I will be the president of the United States for the environment," McCain said before donning jeans and a U.S. Navy cap to tour the forests near Seattle's principal drinking water reservoir.

Asked if he thought Washington state residents would stand for more nuclear power development after dealing with some monumental problems, including the polluted Hanford site in Eastern Washington, McCain said he would pledge renewed cleanup efforts and push for modernized technology for dealing with toxic waste.

McCain prevailed in Washington's GOP caucuses and primary, but the state is likely a long shot for him to win in November.

Voters here, particularly in the urban core, tend to vote Democratic, with active anti-war and environmental movements. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, increasingly seen as the inevitable Democratic nominee, won big in the state's Democratic caucuses.

Still, local Republicans are hoping the Arizona senator's appeal to independents and centrists could help candidates farther down the ticket, including in the statehouse.

The godfathers of Washington's GOP were on hand Tuesday, along with some rising stars. Conspicuously absent was Dino Rossi, the gubernatorial candidate who is running a rematch against incumbent Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire this fall - the same candidate Rossi nearly defeated in 2004.

McCain also planned a Tuesday evening reception in Bellevue to raise money for his national campaign. Tickets were advertised at $1,000 for the main reception, $2,300 for a VIP reception, $10,000 for a photo opportunity, and $33,100 for the "victory dinner."