But the majority of McCain's campaign stops take place in friendly territory, where he gets a hero's welcome -- areas populated by veterans where McCain performed well in 2000.

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The same is true of the frequently repeated section where the hero cares for his horse by brushing dirt off its coat, filling a trough with water, and feeding it apples.

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There's a bit of a hero's welcome for us at the end of the track, where we're greeted by a signpost, festooned with abandoned, weary-looking boots, congratulating us on completing the track.

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