Is McCain’s GOP mojo on the wane?

August 9, 2006

As I noted earlier, Rep. Joe Schwarz lost a GOP House primary in Michigan yesterday, punished in large part because of relative centrism in the Republican caucus. I think it’s worth noting, however, the role Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) had in the race.

McCain not only backed Schwarz, in July, he traveled to the Michigan district to appear on Schwarz’s behalf, calling him “a tremendous asset to the Republican Party.” Republican voters disagreed; Schwarz lost yesterday to a far-right rival by six points.

It got me thinking: this seems to happen quite a bit.

In June, McCain backed David Emery, one of three Republican candidates for governor in Maine, and even narrated Emery’s top campaign TV ad. Emery came in a fairly distant third.

A month earlier, McCain threw his support behind Rep. Tom Osborne in Nebraska’s Republican gubernatorial primary. Osborne lost, too.

In late June, McCain backed a series of Republican candidates in down-ballot GOP primaries, many of whom came in third.

I realize that McCain is the presumptive favorite for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, but if McCain’s a powerhouse, why do his candidates keep losing GOP primaries? Or is this just a sign that endorsements don’t mean much to primary voters?

He’s not a favorite for the GOP nomination, but he’s a shoo-in for the general election.

Remember, McCain was bandied about in March and April of 2004 as Kerry’s running mate.

And no figure in American public life has a comparable hold over the media.

And that’s what’s going to make it so interesting.

Will the institutional GOP pass up a chance to win 40 states and 410 electoral votes just to prove a point?

I don’t think so.

  • It’s a sign that Republican’ts are so consumed with their hatred of John McCain, even though he is a consumate conservative, that they will not only not forgive him for running against Boy George II, they will work to undermine everything he touches.

    I don’t get it. I don’t understand it. Maybe George F. Will can take a moment from writing his column this week explaining who the Democratic Party shouldn’t have dumped Joe Lieberman (he’s busy with fountain pen in hand even as I type) and explain this conservative conundrum to me. It would certainly be a better use of Will’s time, as he has nothing worthwhile to say about how Democrats should be liberals.

    That said, it would be interesting to see if most of McCain’s endorsees are more moderate than himself. If so, he’s further undermining his effort to get support from The Base.

  • Let’s hope the McCain effect continues here in Illinois. He stumped for Topinka recently and I’d like to see her shrill, pointless campaign crash and burn.

  • The political popularity of John McCain is synonymous with the television popularity of a burned-out, has-been television actor on a daytime gameshow. He’s good airtime, and his message can be spun quite nicely to fit the squeal-appeal of the MSM’s tabloid audience. He’s in every home with a television, for crying out loud—he’s got more name recognition than Captain Kangaroo and Bullwinkle the Moose ever had (I’ve heard he’s catching up to Mickey Mouse now).

    He’s the MSM’s golden boy now—and they don’t want the embarrassment of acknowledging that he’s just not what those finicky voters want any more. But the real deal is the fact that a vote against “someone backed by McCain” could be considered a vote against McCain himself….

  • I would say that endorsements don’t count for much anymore. I surely don’t pay attention to them, but, hey, who am I?

  • I’m not sure McCain EVER had much GOP mojo. His mojo is with the media establishment and moderates.

    Alas.

  • I agree with Davis – McCain would be hard to beat. Since the Bush administration is so clueless about how to handle the military mess they’ve made in the Mideast, a lot of voters would think it was time to put a “seasoned military man” in office – someone they hope would know what to do.

  • To Davis (#1) and Lucy (#8)–I don’t know whether endorsements mean anything but I do know that McCaiin has a problem with moderates now that is not unlike Lieberman’s. It stems from the literal kissing up to Dear Leader in order to get some fundie magic going–and this while Katrina was taking out New Orleans too. So now, the fundies don’t think he’s conservative enough and the moderates were nauseated by the inexplicable love fest. I don’t believe he is electable. Re “seasoned military” men–I like Wes Clark.

  • CB (emphasis added):

    “Republican voters disagreed; Schwarz lost yesterday to a far-right rival by six points.”

    Anybody notice any media screeds warning the world that the Republican party has been taken over by the Coutler-Malkin right wing fanatics?

    No?

    How come it seems all I was reading yesterday was that Lamont’s victory was a victory for McGovern left wing extremists? And that the Democrat party has been co-opted?

    Must be that left wing corporate media bias again…
    Funny how they always do that…

  • Oops…

    I see Kevin Drum wrote nearly the same thing (but much better put) with a time stamp 12 minutes afore mine.

    Just so you all know… I hadn’t read his post and wasn’t… what’s the word?…. “Coultering” his post?

  • Though liked by many, McCain’s embrace of the war will only weaken him as Iraq descends….and spirals downward. There’s no hope for a turnaround on this front.

    He is also very old and looking older by the month.

  • It is not mccain’s destiny to be president (I consulted a magic eight ball).

    Second, yea…um, I think we should be worried that in an overall “blue-collar” state like Michigan, the republican lost to a FAR-RIGHT candidate…

    That’s spooky. Man…wtf?!

  • People seem to make the mistake of confusing “electable” McCain of 2000 with “unelectable” McCain of 2008. McCain has thrown his lot in with the Bush agenda. Campaigning on continuing the Bush agenda will get you 33% of the electorate.

    Anyhow, it’s really a moot point. McCain won’t win the nomination. Ralph Reed made sure of that back in 2000 with the black baby story that many southern republicans still believe.

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