It's an extremely common slogan in Iran(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_to_America). I should note that Iranian officials generally insist that it's not meant literally, although I'm not taking a position on whether or not that's true.
I wonder if McCain meant his death chant literally:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7s5pT3Rris
Its probably a good thing he didn't get a chance to set official US policy on Iran.
EDIT: /s
And he was a United States senator for 30 years, including a Chair of the Armed Services Committee. How much more involved in setting America's international policy could one be?