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Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Can McCain pull this rabbit out of the hat?

Amy Holmes
360 Contributor

If McCain wins Michigan tonight, he will be on his way to putting together a new, post-Reagan primary coalition no one saw coming: moderate Republicans and Independents, with a few Democrats sprinkled in.

Huckabee's dominance among Evangelical voters has allowed McCain to bypass the Evangelical block, stick to his strengths, and court Independents on his terms. Evangelicals are a tricky constituency for McCain (think "agents of intolerance" and McCain/Feingold). Huckabee has so far taken that vulnerability off the table.

If it works -- and that's still a big "if" -- McCain will have turned the rules inside out in a totally new, totally unexpected, and probably once in a lifetime political feat.

Remember when immigration was going to sink him?

Politics. Fascinating sport, ain't it?

Posted By CNN: 5:52 PM ET
11 Comments

I hope McCain pulls that rabbit out of the hat. I can't think of a better candidate on the Republican side for President. You may not like what he says at times but you know he is telling you what he believes to be true. When I think of the word integrity I think of John McCain

Hopefully its McCain's time - he has given a lot to this country and seems to have a lot more to give. The press has referred to him as the moral compass of the Republican party at times - I hope that compass is pointing to the White House.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

Posted By

Annie Kate : 6:02 PM ET

Amy,
I hope McCain can pull a rabbit out of a hat tonight. After all he is the most up front and honest candidate on either side! He says what he means and doesn't back off of it unlike ALOT of the others.

On down the line he will have to deal with the evangelicals if he happens to win the nod. And honestly they will back him when it comes to either him or Hillary being the president...I bet you that!!

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.

Posted By

Cindy : 6:02 PM ET

There's nothing wrong with having a following of moderate Republicans, Independents and a few Democrats sprinkled in.
I think the media and pundits ignore the huge group of people out here who are not evangelical and yet might just vote for a Republican.

Lorie Ann
Buellton, Calif.

Posted By

Lorie Ann : 6:09 PM ET

I don't care much for politics or sports, too competative and dangerous.

I come from the other angle of activist and want good changes implemented by the correct person. It is a bit hard to figure that out when the scene changes.My head is spinning almost as much as their statements spin to fit the situation.

Can't they just tell the truth and stick to what they WILL do not what they WANT us to believe they will do to get votes?

It would make choosing the right one easier. Just lay the cards out on the table and let the people decide instead of being spun more than one would on the mary-go-round.

lol.

Posted By

Sabrina in Los Angeles : 6:19 PM ET

John McCain is not in lockstep with the Republican party- that much we know. Republicans have to decide if they want a "watered-down" conservative and Democrats have to decide if they trust his appearance of reaching across the aisle.

Posted By

Diane - Providence , RI. : 6:20 PM ET

I hope people don't hold his age against him, Amy. 70 is the new 50, right?

Posted By

Gene, Denver, Co. : 6:23 PM ET

As a McCain supporter, I'm loving every second of this. It's more fun than analyzing the psychology of a NASCAR race on a Sunday afternoon. Well, almost as much fun...

I'm looking forward to the coverage tonight. The analysis gets better and better as this goes along. I've always found politics entertaining (I live in Louisiana; we have lots of material to work with). This year, entertainment is an understatement, though.

Posted By

Tammy, Berwick, LA : 6:40 PM ET

Driving around the Metro Detroit area earlier today I saw a few McCain signs and one Huckabee, but that was it. If I hadn't voted for my original choice I might consider McCain as he seems to be more attune to what is going on with the average person. Poles close in an hour and 20 minutes then we'll see how the Great Lakes state voted.

Posted By

Marcia, Warren MI : 6:42 PM ET

Wow what a ride! We now have three different Republican winners and two different Democratic winners in these primaries. It really is anybody's race to win.

Posted By

shawn a, alvin ,tx. : 9:17 PM ET

Sadly McCain lost to Romney tonight. I personally was hoping that McCain would win this and let Romney's big money campaign slowly die out. However, the longer the Republicans attack each other (and Romney continues to run through his money like its candy) the longer we have to knockout unworthy candidates. But hopefully we will begin to see an end soon because I and many like me are becoming rapidly disillusioned with this race.

Posted By

Cheri : 10:48 PM ET

post-Reagan?
The only people who wax nastalgic about Ronald Reagan are either:
1) those who wear unfertilized eggs at the time; or
2) are still hold up in their heavily fortified Wyoming shacks.

I find it amusing to know that the current GOP candidates want to take us back to the "Reagan years" yet reputiate the "Clinton years"... hmmm, extraordinary deficits, high unemployment, a shift from self-determination to co-dependent society, "trickle-down economics", criminal behavior, president not knowing how to tie his own shoes... yep, those Reagan years were something else.

Posted By

Robert -Jakarta : 11:54 PM ET

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