March 19, 2008: Is McCain peaking too soon?

Or is he headed for a rout? Hard to tell, of course, but he's looking good in this new poll. I understand he's coming to California next week, but perhaps he should go on an Asia tour instead, visit Tokyo or Beijing (to complain about the Tibetans), and stay as far above the fray as possible. Of course there's the jetlag to consider. That would wreck me and I'm a spring chicken compared to Mac.

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Peaking?

In this part of the world, he's been virtually invisible while Obama and Hillary Voldemort Clinton engage in mutual assured destruction.

I think that once there's a Democrat nominee, the clear contrasts will start coming, and McCain's popularity will increase.

Posted by: srlucado at March 19, 2008 7:13 AM

I agree w/ host, please run cool, Sen McCain. Let the two loose cannons tear up the deck if they must -- you stay high up on the bridge, keeping your bearings.

Posted by: Buddy Larsen at March 19, 2008 7:23 AM

I was among the very first to predict a possible landslide victory for John McCain. The odds are on his side. He may have to punch out an elderly nun to blow this election. Identity politics is severely damaging the Democratic Party. The middle of the road voters will not jump aboard this train. Democrats will be hard pressed getting past their hard core forty percent voting block. On top of that, McCain will benefit from the growing mindset that he will likely only be a one term president and he we can take another look at our choices in 2012.

Posted by: David Thomson at March 19, 2008 8:09 AM

"McCain will benefit from the growing mindset that he will likely only be a one term president and he we can take another look at our choices in 2012."

I never looked at it that way, David, but you may have a point.

Posted by: Roger at March 19, 2008 8:18 AM

I am pretty sure McCain's "route" runs through the disaster of identity politics the Democrats are showcasing. Not sure whether it will turn into a rout though. (I know this was inadvertent, Roger.)

Posted by: MikeD at March 19, 2008 8:50 AM

Mac needs to focus on this economic crisis we are having. He needs to start explaining to people how he is going to get us out of it.

Barring an attack, this election will turn on kitchen table issues.

Posted by: Lem at March 19, 2008 9:53 AM

Was thinking the exact same thing.

As long as he doesn't thow up on anybody...

Actually he should fund raise is buttinsky off-which someone who looked at his schedule online told me, that is exactly what he is doing.

The only thing is that old adage about publicity.

As a weird aside, I was watching French television-and on the news hour not a sign of Hillary or Obama just John McCain in Iraq.

Posted by: madawaskan at March 19, 2008 10:25 AM

"When your enemies are destroying each other, stay out of their way."

I do hope that this is the jump-the-shark moment for Identity Politics

Posted by: LarryD at March 19, 2008 10:57 AM

"Mac needs to focus on this economic crisis we are having."

We are experiencing an economic downturn---but not a crisis. There will be no one dying from starvation. A larger number of us will merely eat out at restaurants less frequently. There are, so far, no real signs of "negative growth" indicating an actual recession. Our economic growth rate is merely slowing.

Posted by: David Thomson at March 19, 2008 11:23 AM

"I do hope that this is the jump-the-shark moment for Identity Politics"

I'll second that, Larry. Perhaps becoming "victims" of their own divisive pandering will bring the Dems back to a more rational place - out-McGoverning each other is not winning them many elections, '06 aside.

Posted by: Lightnin' Hopkins at March 19, 2008 11:34 AM

David:

"punch out an elderly nun to blow this election"

priceless !!!

Posted by: jedrury at March 19, 2008 11:42 AM

David:

"punch out an elderly nun to blow this election"

I doubt that would even make the news. It's perfectly PC to beat up on Catholics.

Now, if it was an elderly Imam or Marxist professor / preacher now THAT would be news.

Posted by: AlanC at March 19, 2008 12:42 PM

This is the sort of thing that can change priorities in a heartbeat

McCain will hold his own in any debate about the enconomy, but his opponent, whoever it is, will be clueless about what to do about terroism.

Posted by: Godzilla at March 19, 2008 2:35 PM

This makes an easy political cartoon: McCain snoozing in his backyard hammock while reporters view the latest Dem stories and ask the question in the title of this post.

Posted by: ras at March 19, 2008 2:42 PM

I don't know if the Senator is peaking too soon but I spotted the first McCain for President bumper sticker today on PCH while driving through Huntington Beach. But right after that I saw dozens of Obama '08, Kerry/Edwards, a Ralph Nader(Honest!) and a Huckabee. To add to the meaninglessness I'm puting my Dan Gurney for President sticker on my car tomorrow.

Posted by: Pat Patterson at March 19, 2008 4:35 PM

I think people are anxious about the economy. I think that is what hurts Bush the most. People blame the bad economy on high gas prices and the deficit and they blame them both on the war and etc.

I don't that is right, but it is simple and people prefer simple answers and besides that is what the media has been cramming down their throats for some time anyway.

Notice how all the news on the economy got hysterical when Iraq started looking better? No coincidence there. They assume that hurting Bush will hurt McCain and help the Democrats. The media has gotten to the place where most of them are not even subtle about it anymore.

Just watch them with Obama, it is downright disgusting. I thought some of those guys were going to start to drool after Obama's big speech on race.

Posted by: TerryeL at March 19, 2008 5:04 PM

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