McCain, Born in Canal Zone, Dismisses Citizenship Flap

A recent media flap about John McCain's citizenship is a non-issue, the candidate says. McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone while his father served there in the Navy, which makes him a natural-born citizen and qualifies him to run for president, the AP reports. His camp recently sought a legal analysis on the matter, and a New York Times article got pundits speculating.

McCain says the matter was settled in 1964. "Barry Goldwater was born in Arizona when it was a territory, Arizona was a territory, and it went all the way to the Supreme Court," he said. Dems won't be making an issue of it. Barack Obama said yesterday he will co-sponsor a bill to clearly define anyone born abroad to US citizens serving in the forces as a natural-born citizen. (More John McCain stories.)