McCain the Kerry of 2008?

McCain the Kerry of 2008? Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., left, and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Capitol Hill in March 13, 2002, file photo. (AP) Andrew Sullivan has endorsed John McCain for the Republican nomination.

I find myself wanting him to be the nominee more and more. He’s deserved it. And he is the one Republican who won’t needlessly exacerbate polarization. Imagine an Obama-McCain race: adult, graceful, necessary, and good for us. On torture and climate change, McCain is also a rare Republican prepared to embrace reality rather than base-bluster. Maybe he’s going to become the Kerry of this election cycle: dismissed as old hat for months and then newly relevant in the weeks before the primaries.

Could be. Alex Knapp has been making that case for quite some time on OTB Radio and Sully’s right: The GOP could do worse.

I’m not as optimistic that a bluster-free campaign is possible, given the stakes and the incentives, but an Obama-McCain race would provide a much better chance than, say, a Clinton-Guiliani matchup.

As to the Kerry analogy, I’m hoping it doesn’t hold in all respects. For one thing, I’d hope McCain carries Ohio. And, for goodness sakes, sir, don’t wear skin tight clothing and go wind surfing.

Photo source: AP/CBS News

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. David Nick says:

    Let us all hope that our Presidential race doesn’t come down to an Obama/McCain duel. While I like Obama infinitely better than having another Clinton in the office, McCain is not the sort of President this country needs. He would do NO BETTER than the last two clowns we had in office. Hands down.

  2. Tano says:

    What the heck is wrong with windsurfing anyway?

  3. James Joyner says:

    What the heck is wrong with windsurfing anyway?

    Nothing, so far as I’m concerned. While many made fun of him, I found the fact that a 60-something was still that athletic rather impressive.

    Regardless, I have no desire to see McCain in tights.

  4. TheHat says:

    McTraitor? Never. Period.

    McCain-Fingold = rise of George Soros. How much did McCain get from Soros for that piece of shit leglislation?

    McCain-Kennedy = health care debacle

    McCain vs President Bush and the nonimation of Conserative judges. Remember McCain is one of the leaders of the Gang of Seven.

    George Bush turned out to be useless on small government and restircted spending. Lets not pick another phony Republican. McCain is a liberal when voting and a damn RINO when politicing!

    McCain hanging out with Liberals. The picture tells the story of McCains life. What a freeking AssHole!