Arizona Republic: McCain's reception lukewarm

[deadparrot]

John McCain has some work to do before the 2008 presidential campaign, and it starts with convincing the conservative base of his party that it's OK for Democrat voters like Brent Roam to like him.

McCain hasn't announced he's a candidate for president, but voters inside and outside his party were banking on it at his town-hall style meeting at Mesa Community College on Thursday night.

Roam, a registered Democrat, left thinking the Republican senator and possible presidential candidate had some fences to mend. "I've always liked McCain," said Roam, 34, a law student at Arizona State. "What surprised me the most is the level of animosity I sensed toward him from his own party."

Much of that bad blood stems from McCain's proposed immigration reform bill.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/0830M-McCain27Z6.html

[SteppingRazor]

1. In this case, the conventional wisdom is true...

McCain will have a tough time in the 2008 primaries, but could coast in the general election.

I think the CW is wrong on Hillary, though -- I hear too many people saying she'll coast in the primary and get killed in the general, which I think is dead wrong.

[davidinalameda]

2. which part do you think is wrong

that she'll coast in the primaries or get killed in the general

[SteppingRazor]

5. Depending on the GOP candidate, both.

I don't think the democratic primaries would be easy for her in any case.

And whether or not she does well in the general will depend who she's up against. If it's a perceived moderate, such as McCain, she could be in deep trouble. If the conservative base manages to overcome McCain in the primary and nominate somebody like Frist to run, I think Clinton will beat him.

[lancdem]

6. I second that

I also think any Dem would be a definite underdog against McCain.

[karynnj]

15. Oddly , one of the toughest opponents for McCain would be Kerry

Kerry could looking polite and innocent push McCain's buttons more easily than he did Bush's. He knows where they are. This will work well if the Republican opponents have used anything to imply he is unstable.

Read McCain's OWN account of their POW/MIA work the one who comes off as Presidential in Kerry - it was his diplomacy, hard work, and management skills that resulted in an agreement acceptable to all on the committee. McCain comes off as politically calculating and a loose cannon. (McCain wouldn't take the ranking member job because he thought it could hurt him - Kerry thought the same thing then took the job of chairman because it was the right thing to do. Then in subsequent years, McCain and his media groupie have made it McCain and Kerry who did it. So, who is the media hog and opportunist?) From McCain's own version Kerry had to calm him down so he wouldn't explode.

The dynamics don't work as well with Hillary - and he will crush her strong military credentials.

[davidinalameda]

8. McCain is making his true colors known

he's a conservative-he's always been a conservative and he's making his positions much more public

but I don't see him getting the nomination--he's pissed off the religious right and unless he kisses some major ass in the next 2 years, he's not going to get the nomination

I think that they'll nominate someone like Frist-doubt it will be him though

[SteppingRazor]

9. I agree he's conservative...

That's why I said "perceived moderate" not just "moderate." He may be conservative, but most people don't see him that way, both among Republicans and among independents.

[davidinalameda]

12. I agree

people's perception of him is wrong

[skypilot]

10. I saw McCain on Conan O'Brien last night...

...it was a rerun but I hadn't seen it the first time it aired. It was nauseating. At one point he tried to insinuate that our invading Iraq and "spreading democracy" there was what caused the uproar over the election in the Ukraine. He actually concluded his little speech saying that democracy was spreading "like a disease" Emphasis mine. Creepy little man. I don't get what his appeal is to anyone.

[lancdem]

3. I agree

I think Hillary would be more formidable in the general election (assuming she runs and wins the nomination) than people think. I've lost a lot of respect for McCain, but I still believe he will be very tough to beat if he wins the GOP nomination.

[Redneck Socialist]

4. I saw a McCain '08 bumper sticker the other day

Granted I live in NH but that's pretty damn early even for my state.

[lancdem]

7. That's where he made his surprisingly strong showing

in 2000, beating Bush.

[Redneck Socialist]

11. Yeah, repukes here don't go for fundie nutso so much...

libertarian nutso is just fine though.

[Voltaire99]

13. Crazy-ass war-loving themonuclear-tempered McCain

If he wins, the Oval Office will need to be padded.

With bars on the windows.

[classysassy]

14. McCain

there is something about rethugs from Texas(yes McNut was born in TexAss).