INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Presidential candidate John McCain courted Indiana Republicans on Friday with talk of seeking lower taxes, succeeding in the Iraq war and appointing conservative judges.

A crowd of a couple hundred people applauded McCain's remarks several times during a town hall meeting, but the biggest approval came after a military veteran took a microphone and said he was "infuriated" over what he called attacks on the likely Republican nominee's character.

Kent Morgan, a retired banker who served in the Coast Guard in the 1960s, said he was upset with news reports suggesting McCain had an inappropriate relationship with a female lobbyist and advanced the interests of her clients.

"I felt somebody needed to stand up and say something and I said it from the heart," Morgan said afterward. "I feel that he is the right candidate at the right time."

McCain took questions on topics such as health care, immigration, the Iraq war and abortion during the hour-long session in the lobby of the Emmis Communications headquarters on Monument Circle. He later attended a private fundraiser at the nearby Conrad hotel.

"I am a conservative Republican," he declared, and soon afterward said that if he becomes president that he would nominate judges similar to Chief Justice John Roberts, who grew up in Long Beach, Ind., and was appointed by President Bush in 2005.

McCain said the American economy was in the midst of "difficult times."

"We need to have tax cuts so that people will be able to keep and invest more of their money," he said.

Aaron Morris, 21, of Indianapolis said he was encouraged by what he heard.

"He sounds more conservative than he is made out to be, so that is good," Morris said.

People interested in hearing directly from McCain began lining up before dawn — and about 100 were not let inside.

"I figure if he can spend all those years as a POW, we can spend a few hours out in the cold," said the first person in line, Marine Corps veteran Chuck Jordan of Indianapolis, who described himself as a McCain supporter for many years. Temperatures were in the low 20s.

Others were more skeptical. Lyle Carlson, a history teacher at Peru High School, drove about 70 miles to Indianapolis, but said he was curious about McCain's "conservative credentials because he kind of just discovered them."

"I want to see the guy and get a feel for him," said Carlson, who had supported Fred Thompson before the actor and former senator dropped out of the Republican race.

McCain's appearance marked a rare trip by a presidential hopeful to Indiana, which has backed the Republican candidate in each election since 1968.

Indiana Democratic Chairman Dan Parker said McCain needed to make the trip because many Indiana voters are unhappy about the direction of the economy and the war in Iraq.

"If John McCain doesn't pay attention to Indiana, you could see a real race here in November because people are clamoring for change," he said.

Neither of the leading Democratic candidates — Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton — has traveled to Indiana since last summer, although that could change if their nomination fight is not settled before the state's May 6 primary.

Gov. Mitch Daniels, who has backed McCain for months and introduced him on Friday, said he believed the state's voters will find the Arizona senator an appealing candidate to support in the November election.

"I think his views on how you grow an economy, how you make health care better, how you protect Americans from people who wish us ill are in the mainstream of Indiana opinion," Daniels said afterward. "I don't think that can be said of either of his presidential opponents."

WSBT Reporter Samuel King was in Indianapolis and will have the latest on McCain's visit on WSBT News at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

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