John McCain is working on getting the message out that he is a distinct person with his own mind and own vote, and not a carbon copy of President Bush the way Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is trying to paint him to be.

The presumptive Republican nominee is quick to remind voters of the times he has opposed the president and broken with the party -- a tightrope effort that aims to pick up independents and Democrats while still not alienating base Republican voters.

Earlier this year, McCain toured a number of spots in the Appalachian Mountains and in the Deep South, addressing issues like poverty and race relations, not typical Republican priorities. McCain calls those spots "forgotten places" but says he is paying attention. He also stopped in New Orleans a few weeks ago to blast the way the administration handled clean-up after Hurricane Katrina.

Another topic where he has distinguished himself is climate change. McCain made a key speech on the issue this week, and stated his opposition to the party by supporting mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions. He went so far as to point the finger at the current administration, saying he "will not permit eight long years to pass" without taking action.

Supporters say it's just one more example of how McCain is his own man.

"John McCain is independent, he is a maverick, he is not George Bush. And some of the things he says he agrees with the president, others he doesn't," said fellow Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl. "I mean they may have some good arguments to make in the campaign but one of them is not that McCain is Bush."

"John McCain is an independent guy and he understands that in order to do what's right, sometimes you reach out, you help others help you get the agenda for the people moving forward," said Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, an oft-mentioned potential vice presidential running mate. "That's why I think he has a great chance to do very well in the south and be our next president. I mean a true American hero, a man of tremendous strength, great integrity and tremendous honor and he says what's on his mind, I mean this straight talk is the real deal."

It's no secret the president has given his support to McCain and they have appeared together. Later this month, they will join forces for a mega-fundraiser in Phoenix -- the first time the two will appear together at a campaign event since McCain essentially wrapped up the nomination.

McCain critics say he may be branching out here and there, but on key issues like health care, national security and the judiciary, McCain doesn't stray far from the president's thinking.

"The economy's in the worst shape it's been in for decades in this country, and to continue policies here that have the largest deficit in our history -- we've got jobs we're losing in this nation. We've got a housing crisis of significant magnitude. And here we have John McCain talking about basically continuing the same economic policies.  I think most Americans want a change. They want a new direction for our country.  They don't want more of the same.  Of that I'm certain," said Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd, an Obama supporter.

FOX News' Shannon Bream contributed to this report.