Comments on: McCain Moves To The Right – And Loses Independents? http://informedspeculation.com/2006/04/15/mccain-moves-to-the-right-and-loses-independents/ Refunds Cheerfully Given To All Who Disagree Sat, 07 Apr 2012 09:00:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Dave http://informedspeculation.com/2006/04/15/mccain-moves-to-the-right-and-loses-independents/comment-page-1/#comment-16127 Dave Mon, 17 Apr 2006 20:51:29 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/04/15/mccain-moves-to-the-right-and-loses-independents/#comment-16127 I dunno, it feels like one flip-flop too many. If McCain goes from conservative to moderate to conservative to moderate all within a decade-long time span, doesn't he cease to stand for anything other than the unquenchable desire to be president? McCain's only pull with conservatives right now is that he's electable, but his move to the right is causing him to jettison any Democrat support he may have had and, along with his continued lukewarm support among Republicans, McCain is finding himself within single digits of the likely Democratic nominee. If the best McCain can do against Hillary is a modest five-point win, many conservatives will see little point in embracing the senator over various other candidates who have been more loyal to the party and who could attain a comparable margin of victory. I dunno, it feels like one flip-flop too many. If McCain goes from conservative to moderate to conservative to moderate all within a decade-long time span, doesn’t he cease to stand for anything other than the unquenchable desire to be president?

McCain’s only pull with conservatives right now is that he’s electable, but his move to the right is causing him to jettison any Democrat support he may have had and, along with his continued lukewarm support among Republicans, McCain is finding himself within single digits of the likely Democratic nominee. If the best McCain can do against Hillary is a modest five-point win, many conservatives will see little point in embracing the senator over various other candidates who have been more loyal to the party and who could attain a comparable margin of victory.

]]> By: Dennis http://informedspeculation.com/2006/04/15/mccain-moves-to-the-right-and-loses-independents/comment-page-1/#comment-16093 Dennis Mon, 17 Apr 2006 05:53:49 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/04/15/mccain-moves-to-the-right-and-loses-independents/#comment-16093 Actually, while I think Hillary is in fact fairly moderate, or at least she's proved to be so during her senate career so far, I think most polls show people still perceiving her as being pretty liberal, fairly or unfairly. So if McCain tacks back to the middle in the general election, it might seem like he's going back home. If Hillary does, voters might think she's just being cynical. Perhaps by the time 2008 comes around, she'll have convinced enough people that she's not George McGovern in a pantsuit and this won't be an issue. Of course, then it will be interesting to see if the fringier folks on the left reject her because of that. Actually, while I think Hillary is in fact fairly moderate, or at least she’s proved to be so during her senate career so far, I think most polls show people still perceiving her as being pretty liberal, fairly or unfairly. So if McCain tacks back to the middle in the general election, it might seem like he’s going back home. If Hillary does, voters might think she’s just being cynical.

Perhaps by the time 2008 comes around, she’ll have convinced enough people that she’s not George McGovern in a pantsuit and this won’t be an issue. Of course, then it will be interesting to see if the fringier folks on the left reject her because of that.

]]> By: too many steves http://informedspeculation.com/2006/04/15/mccain-moves-to-the-right-and-loses-independents/comment-page-1/#comment-16053 too many steves Sun, 16 Apr 2006 11:04:10 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/04/15/mccain-moves-to-the-right-and-loses-independents/#comment-16053 McCain has the problem that Reagan solved so well: win the Party's nomination by heading off to the Right, while winning the general election by attracting Independents. Doesn't Hillary have the same problem? Their trips back to the middle, after the primary season is finished, will be easier because that is where they are (perceived to be) from. McCain has the problem that Reagan solved so well: win the Party’s nomination by heading off to the Right, while winning the general election by attracting Independents.

Doesn’t Hillary have the same problem?

Their trips back to the middle, after the primary season is finished, will be easier because that is where they are (perceived to be) from.

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