Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Conservatives Wary of Election 'McCainia'
Many Democrats and independents were among those supporters who turned up at a recent Kansas City signing of Sen. John McCain’s new book "Character Is Destiny.”
But the same political views that endear McCain to Democrats and independents arouse disdain among staunch conservatives – who could deny him the White House in 2008.
"Most conservatives struggle with him,” Lou Sheldon, founder of the Traditional Values Coalition, told the Kansas City Star.
Last month Rush Limbaugh castigated McCain as a "Republican in Name Only,” and earlier this year Pat Robertson told ABC News: "McCain I’d vote against under any circumstances.”
Among the issues that have landed McCain on the wrong side of conservatives are his support of campaign finance reform, his co-sponsoring of an immigration bill with Sen. Ted Kennedy, his membership in the "Gang of 14” legislators who compromised on judicial nominations, his challenge of the Bush administration’s policy on the treatment of POWs, and his attacks on the religious right.
He has called Robertson and Jerry Falwell "agents of intolerance” who exert an "evil influence” on the Republican Party.
"He always seems anxious to set himself apart and appeal to the Democrats,” Kevin Yowell, a Johnson County (Kan.) GOP political consultant told the Star.
McCain has said he hasn’t even "contemplated” whether he will run for president in 2008.
But a CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll in mid-December showed McCain outpacing five other potential Republican candidates, including Virginia Sen. George Allen. McCain (22 percent) trailed only former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (30 percent).
Another recent poll by the National Journal had McCain leading Giuliani, although trailing Allen.
"Many conservatives don’t want to trust [McCain] with the Oval Office,” the National Journal concluded.
But McCain could conceivably win the GOP nomination without widespread support from staunch conservatives, according to Republican pollster Whit Ayres.
"He will never win the very conservatives, but he does have to do reasonably well among the somewhat conservative voters,” Ayres told the Star.
"It’s an open case right now whether he’ll be able to do that.” McCain has already sought to mend fences with Jerry Falwell, who met with the senator in his office two months ago.
"I would have very little difficulty supporting John McCain,” Falwell said afterward.
"When it comes down to Hillary Clinton and a pro-life, pro-family American hero with whom there may be some minor disagreements, I think John McCain will get an enthusiastic backing.”
Many Democrats and independents were among those supporters who turned up at a recent Kansas City signing of Sen. John McCain’s new book "Character Is Destiny.”
But the same political views that endear McCain to Democrats and independents arouse disdain among staunch conservatives – who could deny him the White House in 2008.
"Most conservatives struggle with him,” Lou Sheldon, founder of the Traditional Values Coalition, told the Kansas City Star.
Last month Rush Limbaugh castigated McCain as a "Republican in Name Only,” and earlier this year Pat Robertson told ABC News: "McCain I’d vote against under any circumstances.”
Among the issues that have landed McCain on the wrong side of conservatives are his support of campaign finance reform, his co-sponsoring of an immigration bill with Sen. Ted Kennedy, his membership in the "Gang of 14” legislators who compromised on judicial nominations, his challenge of the Bush administration’s policy on the treatment of POWs, and his attacks on the religious right.
He has called Robertson and Jerry Falwell "agents of intolerance” who exert an "evil influence” on the Republican Party.
"He always seems anxious to set himself apart and appeal to the Democrats,” Kevin Yowell, a Johnson County (Kan.) GOP political consultant told the Star.
McCain has said he hasn’t even "contemplated” whether he will run for president in 2008.
But a CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll in mid-December showed McCain outpacing five other potential Republican candidates, including Virginia Sen. George Allen. McCain (22 percent) trailed only former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (30 percent).
Another recent poll by the National Journal had McCain leading Giuliani, although trailing Allen.
"Many conservatives don’t want to trust [McCain] with the Oval Office,” the National Journal concluded.
But McCain could conceivably win the GOP nomination without widespread support from staunch conservatives, according to Republican pollster Whit Ayres.
"He will never win the very conservatives, but he does have to do reasonably well among the somewhat conservative voters,” Ayres told the Star.
"It’s an open case right now whether he’ll be able to do that.” McCain has already sought to mend fences with Jerry Falwell, who met with the senator in his office two months ago.
"I would have very little difficulty supporting John McCain,” Falwell said afterward.
"When it comes down to Hillary Clinton and a pro-life, pro-family American hero with whom there may be some minor disagreements, I think John McCain will get an enthusiastic backing.”
