now who s been being prepared for, groomed for taking the place of john mccain. first of all, it would be virtually impossible to take his place individually. i think what you re going to see is and what i hope you see is all of us stepping up significantly to fill the gap that he s left. in this highly partisan climate that we re living in where if you go against the president you re likely to lose your seat, won t be able to win a primary, that s why corker is not running for re-election, why flake isn t running for re-election, john mccain not popular in his home state of arizona by a majority of republicans any longer because of what he said about the president. in this partisan climate, is it possible for lawmakers to defy their leader? well, what will make it possible is the american people. if it s very clear in these elections in november that they want a change in behavior, a
i m going to miss him. i have admired him like i said my entire life, and it is tough to imagine a senate without him. it is tough to imagine politics without john mccain, but we need to go on. tributes are pouring in from across the nation after the death of war hero and six-term senator john mccain, and the reaction is especially strong in mccain s home state of arizona where the first of three memorial services for him will take place. kyung lah is live in phoenix and join g ing us now. kyung, mccain took on the somber task of planning his own funeral while he was alive and what you tell us about this? well, senator flake there captured it, it is difficult to
example to the country of someone who put country first, displayed tremendous courage, incredible integrity. loved his work. passionately believed in the issues that he fought for, but did it in a way that preserved our democracy and strengthened our democracy. i think he is an example to all of us particularly in this moment of what it means to be a statesman, not a politician, because he put our country first, served our country, did it with great courage, spoke his mind and i think that s an example and inspiration for everyone and we should honor his legacy by conducting ourselves that way. senator mccain was popular in his home state of arizona and as a national figure very popular, but among republicans nationally he had a higher disapproval rating than he had an approval rating. some of that is because he would buck his party, vote against the repeal of obamacare but there are other reasons for it, too. yeah, and i think he was coming at the tail end of a time when among the
washington in just a moment. first, let s start in his home state of arizona. cnn s senior national correspondent keung la is in phoenix. the senator actually planned his own funeral services. so what are you able to share with us? reporter: well, fredricka, so much of this battle he had with this disease, from the diagnosis to the year-long battle, happened in the public space. but privately, he was planning his own funeral over the last year. as friends would come to visit him at his arizona ranch, the senator would say what he wanted and what he wanted is what will be unfolding. there will be a total of three services, one here in arizona, a public remembrance, as well as a funeral service. there will be one at the national cathedral in washington, d.c. and then in annapolis, where his military career began. and here in arizona, a solemn procession began last night, beginning all of this.
senator. as we were standing out here, we saw as a parade of suvs arrived led by a prosession of police officers on motorcycles and a hearse and not long after that, we saw them leave the property here. we understand that the senator was very much a part of planning how he wanted to be remembered and also, planning how he wanted his funeral prosession would be. an example of his strength all the way up to the en. he has been planning for the moment for some time. he often discussed with friends and family, what he would look like what he would like for his funeral. those plans have not been officially announced. sources tell cnn, mccain favored three locations for services. his home state of arizona, the national cathedral in washington and annapolis, maryland, home of