If you had asked me last year after Bush's reelection what McCain's chances of getting the 2008 nomination would be, I would've replied virtually zero.
But alas, the unpredictability of American politics forces you to reconsider certain assumptions and over the past week I have been getting extremely worried about a McCain candidacy.
Word on the street is that McCain has raised over 1 million from establishment Republicans who vehemently opposed his candidacy in the 2000 primaries. But more importantly, David Brooks commented on Hardball that he talked to right wingers in the Midwest and they told him that the only two national Republicans they really like are McCain and Condi Rice.
During the past year and a half, McCain has moved steadily to the right by unabashedly supporting Bush's agenda and reconciling differences with Jerry Falwell. But he is also trying to carve a more moderate image by speaking out against torture. He is constantly in the media, ranging from cover of time to espn's show, quite frankly. There is no doubt that McCain is lusting after the White House.
In the wake of Bush's failed presidency, McCain will be a desirable alternative to primary voters. He is admired by the majority of Americans, reminding them of Reagan. If McCain wins the nomination and selects a moderate like Giuliani it could potentially send the Democratic Party into White House wilderness. A McCain/Rudy combo could realign the electorate by winning states like New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Illinois.
We must wake up from our slumber and take McCain's candidacy more seriously so we can come up with someone who has a chance of beating him. I personally believe that only a Warner/Clark or Warner/Obama ticket has a chance of stopping McCain.