U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona stumped for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in Tallahassee Wednesday – among friends.

McCain – who spent years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam – spoke at the American Legion to a packed crowd.

He joked about his loss to President Barack Obama in 2008, when McCain was the GOP candidate. He grew serious when he spoke of threats to U.S. foreign policy and the role Florida will play in the presidential race.

"This morning's polls show – guess what? Florida is a toss-up”, said McCain. “I can draw you a scenario through the Electoral College that shows how Mitt Romney can win without Florida. But I'll tell you, it's a very tough path. It's a very, very tough route. We must win the state of Florida."

McCain has been campaigning for Romney by bus through the military-friendly Panhandle. As a young naval aviator, he was stationed in Pensacola.