The Rumors of John McCain's Demise Are Greatly ExaggeratedThe London Times
publishes speculation that John McCain could drop out of the race by the fall.
The speculation, vigorously denied by McCain’s camp, is sweeping Republican circles after a disastrous few weeks in which the principled Arizona senator has clashed with the party’s conservative base on immigration and also alienated independent voters by backing President George W Bush’s troop surge in Iraq.
I don't think there's any doubt that McCain has taken a hit on immigration (I am pleased that the Times acknowledges that it's a principled stand), but the real question is whether he can recover in time for the primaries early next year, and I see no reason not to believe that is possible.
Remember, McCain beats Hillary. Thompson and Romney lose to Hillary.
Captain Ed has
a similar take:
We have almost seven months before the first primary. That's longer than the campaigns have operated thus far in 2007. No one has even reached the half-way wark, and one major candidate (Fred Thompson) hasn't even entered the race yet. McCain has plenty of time to regroup and attempt to make up lost ground.
