The United States is safer than before 9/11, but more safeguards are needed as the fifth anniversary of the terror attacks draws near, U.S. Sen. John McCain said Friday night before speaking at a fund-raising dinner for the Oklahoma Republican Party.

"The fact that we have not had another attack since 9/11 on the United States of America is testimony to the fact that we have made improvements," said McCain, R-Ariz. "Some people will say maybe we're just lucky I don't think so. I think that the president and this administration deserve credit for us not having had an attack since 9/11. Most experts predicted shortly after 9/11 that we would."

McCain said the United States still must do more about securing its ports and railway systems.

"The country is safer, but I also believe that we still have a long way to go," he said.

McCain, a possible presidential candidate in 2008, said he would make a decision "early next year" whether to make the race. The 70-year-old McCain, an unsuccessful 2000 presidential candidate, said his first priority is to help Republicans this year retain control in both chambers of Congress.

McCain, speaking at a news conference before a $100-a-plate dinner at the Petroleum Club in the Chase Tower in downtown Oklahoma City, made no specific mention of any Oklahoma candidates.

"This is going to be a very challenging election for the Republicans," McCain said. "I believe we can maintain control of both houses, but I think we're going to have to work at it and work hard. One of the things we should emphasize is that we do have a good economy, including the fact this country is safer than it was at 9/11, 2001."

McCain, who said his mother was born in Muskogee, expressed admiration for U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, and his efforts to reduce pork-barrel spending in Congress.

"Our Republican base is unhappy with the fact that we have been unable to restrain spending in Washington and Tom Coburn has assumed a leadership role," McCain said.

McCain, a former Naval aviator in the Vietnam War and prisoner of war, said he thinks President Bush is correct to complete the mission in Iraq.

"If we fail in Iraq, chaos will ensue," he said. "I believe that we've made mistakes in the conduct of this war in Iraq, but I also believe that if we fail in Iraq it will spread instability throughout the entire region."

McCain said he was not optimistic Congress would pass legislation cracking down on illegal immigrants before it adjourns next month.

The first priority should be to tighten America's borders, he said. McCain, like the president, supports a temporary guest worker program.