Demise Of A Political Narrative

The WSJ has a remarkably succinct (and refreshingly honest) summary of where we are at this morning.

For Republican strategists and leaders, facing divisions over presumptive nominee John McCain, the Arizona senator, and demoralized over President Bush's and the party's unpopularity, the potency of both Democrats' candidacies is both fearsome and impressive.

"The Obama wave is unlike anything I have seen during my career. It would have totally swamped any traditional candidate," said Republican pollster Bill McInturff, who conducts The Wall Street Journal/NBC News polls with Democratic pollster Peter Hart. "The fact that Clinton is still standing and breaking even is actually a remarkable statement about how unique a candidate she is and what an exceptionally strong candidate."

With all the nonsense being spouted by pundits, let's not lose sight of that, or just how weak a candidate McCain is turning out to be. The presumptive heir to George W Bush's policies is getting spanked by unhappy conservatives and evangelicals who refuse to give up on Mike "I majored in miracles" Huckabee, and hold their nose for McCain the way they're supposed to. LA and KS and the fiasco in WA are major embarrassments for McCain (who is having a week as bad as Obama's is good), and Bush's near-endorsement might help with the dead-enders that still think Bush is doing a good job, but the fact is many of them are the ones voting for Huckabee and thumbing their nose at McCain.

Republican unity ain't here yet. That will come. So will a close and hard-fought general election (change doesn't come easy). But for now, the deep divisions and lack of enthusiasm on the GOP side are in full view, and the media's pet narrative (anything that happens is bad for Dems and good for Republicans, including a passionate contest between two excellent candidates that drives voting numbers up) is in danger of being overtaken by reality.