Friday, December 14, 2007

JOHN MCCAIN

John McCain: The Democrats' Favorite Republican?

I like the John McCain of 2007 a lot more than the John McCain of 2000.

One of the problems with the John McCain of 2000 was the perception that he was the favorite Republican of liberals, the guy who told the truth when he joked that the media was his base, the guy whose signature issue was campaign finance reform, loathed by many conservatives and liked by many liberals.

This year's John McCain wants to finish the job in Iraq, a dealbreaker for many of the lefties.

But not all, apparently. Team McCain passes on the following news, calling it, "an interesting dynamic in Michigan..."

Among likely Republican voters, the survey found Huckabee (22 percent) and Mitt Romney (21 percent) essentially tied, with McCain third at 14 percent. But when Democrats and independents who say they might vote in the Republican race were included, McCain was at 21 percent, with Romney at 18 percent and Huckabee at 16 percent. In both cases, Giuliani, who has been ahead in most polling in recent months, trailed significantly.

Team McCain notes, "Independents can vote in the Republican primary in New Hampshire, too..."

I'm not sure I would be bragging about that. Appeal to independents and Democrats is great in the general election, but I want the Republican nominee to be picked by Republican voters. If Republicans see McCain winning Michigan thanks to a bunch of Democratic-leaning union members in Michigan, well... won't it be seen with the same skeptical eye as Huckabee's endorsement by a state NEA chapter?

12/14 02:53 PMShare