McCain first told the protesters that he had made himself available during town hall meetings to discuss the concerns of voters. He then made it clear that they should allow him to speak without shouting their anti-war slogans.

After the second interruption, the senator responded more directly.

“By the way,” McCain said to great applause, “I will never surrender in Iraq.

“This may be a longer speech than I anticipated,” he joked when waiting for the crowd to settle down.

McCain was interrupted three times and each time his supporters shouted down the protesters.