ANDERSON, S.C. -- White House hopeful and Arizona Sen. John McCain made a campaign stop at an art gallery on Tuesday afternoon.

McCain called the rally a town hall meeting and fielded questions from both audience members and the media.

“I want to be president to fix the hard things, not the easy things,” McCain said.

McCain discussed a variety of topics from affordable healthcare to Social Security. It came as no shock that the former prisoner of war focused on the war in Iraq.

“If we had withdrawn six months ago when the Democrats wanted us to, al-Qaeda would say they beat the U.S.,” McCain said.

McCain also talked about the importance of South Carolina in the political process.

“People in South Carolina are more sophisticated than ever, and they pay a lot of attention,” McCain said.

Some people who attended the stump session said they were impressed with what the senator had to say.

“He answered my question pretty well,” said James Duncan, an Anderson University professor. “My biggest problem with him is campaign finance reform.”

“I appreciate him being a straight shooter and I appreciate his integrity,” said David Perry, who attended the rally.

McCain was scheduled to make a stop in Clemson on Wednesday morning.