John McCain is in a tailspin in the polls after taking a sharp right turn to pander to the Holy Right. It didn't work for John Kerry to pander, it won't work for McCain. Hey McCain: FLIP FLOP.
Leave the successful art of pandering to the political masters like Bill Clinton John. Despite Hillary's Iraq pandering to "moderates" and attempted triangulation, I say the same to Hillary as I do to McCain and Kerry: only Bill can pull that kind of crap off
I think that John Edwards has that capability. I didn't smell (or don't remember) the stink of pandering with Edwards in the 04 race; he must have simply pulled it off because they all do it. Edwards outpolls Hillary against McCain. Fact is though, the eventual GOP candidate isn't even listed: Sen Allen of Virginia, the darling of wingnuts, the GOP's Warner. Edwards would beat Allen.
Edwards outpolls Hillary vs. McCain because Edwards and McCain are perceived similarly to moderates (gag). Edwards is a known quantity compared to Warner and Warner could be veep! Poll below:
WNBC/Marist Poll. Feb. 13-15, 2006. N=931 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.5.
"If the 2008 presidential election were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are [see below]?"
John McCain (R) John Edwards (D) Unsure % % %
2/13-15/06 47 41 12
10/12-13 & 17/05 49 41 10
4/18-21/05 46 43 11 (THAT's close! And stays within range above)
2/14-16/05 51 39 10
John McCain (R) Hillary Clinton (D) Unsure % % %
2/13-15/06 52 42 6
10/12-13 & 17/05 50 41 9
4/18-21/05 50 42 8
2/14-16/05 54 42 4