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ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 27 /Christian Newswire/ -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today issued the following statement by John McCain on the passing of William F. Buckley Jr.:

"I am profoundly saddened to hear of the passing of William F. Buckley Jr., and offer my deepest condolences to the Buckley family.  Bill had many friends, including my parents, who he visited when they were stationed at the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii.  My father and mother very much admired him and so did their son. 

"With Bill's passing, freedom has lost one of its greatest defenders.  Bill was a great American who helped change the course of history.  When conservatism was a lonely cause, he bravely raised the standard of liberty and led the charge to renew the principles and values that are the foundation of our great country.  A man of tremendous vision and big ideas, he founded the National Review in 1955 and through its pages and his other endeavors, as a lecturer, commentator, debater and author of dozens of books, inspired many and advanced an intellectual rigor that transformed American politics.  Bill was an American giant who shall be missed."