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Originally Posted by maximusveritas
The problem for McCain is that he built his reputation by not doing the exact kinds of things he's doing now. That's what makes this case unique from every other flip-flopping, triangulating politician.
These flip-flops may get McCain closer to the Republican nomination, but they are going to cause him to lose a significant amount of votes from Democrats and Independents who bought into his "maverick" "straight shooter" image. It's going to be very hard for him to win a general election against anybody other than perhaps Hillary.
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I agree with your assessment, but think you underestimate the short memory span of the average voter. If McCain is friendly to the religious right in January, but distances himself shortly thereafter, I would imagine most voters would have entirely forgotten about it by November. As for his odds in the general election, I would predict victory over Kerry, Gore, Leiberman, Clinton, Biden, and Richardson. Warner would be somewhat more difficult, but I nonetheless hold that McCain would be really, really strong in the general election. Getting past Allen in the primary is a different story and my fingers remain crossed.
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