John McCain was in Seattle to support Mike McGavick’s run against Senator Maria Cantwell. The event at the Westin reportedly raised $300,000 for McGavick and was a chance for McCain to meet with supporters of his past and future presidential bids.

But there wasn’t much red meat from McCain, who has a working relationship with Cantwell. A sample quote: “It’s not a matter of criticizing Senator Cantwell. It’s a matter of supporting Mike McGavick.”

To upset Cantwell, McGavick needs to walk the political tightrope that McCain knows so well — being just independent enough for his maverick image but credible to the conservative base he needs to win.