Republican candidate John McCain (web|news|bio) pays tribute to his 96-year-old mother in a new campaign ad.

At 96, Roberta McCain is as feisty as ever.  As she was watching the campaign ad her son, Republican Presidential candidate John McCain, put together for Mother's day, she recalled the day he was born in Panama 71 years ago.

"I awakened and I told Jack, I've gotta go, we're gonna have this baby," she said. Her husband was in the Navy and had to go to work, leaving Roberta alone. "He went out the back door and got in the car to go to get this submarine out of the Navy yard. I went out the front door to walk down about a half block to the hospital."

"When I look back, people might not understand that, but was the way it was, and I wouldn't have it any other way," she said.

Roberta says her son was a born leader and she has watched his career evolve from pilot to politics. Now that he's eying the White House, does she think, as some do, that he's too old? "It could be a factor, but I'm certain that unexperience and the record of his opponents, there's just no comparison. I almost feel sorry for them!"

When asked what keeps her going as a grandmother and a widower, she said "I guess gratitude! I've been the luckiest! My life has been a dream."

She says, if her son wins in November, another dream will come true.

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