The whole McCain flirtation is a Karl Rove operation.
1. McCain was paid off by having his pet issue (steroid abuse) put in the State of the Union speech.
No other way to explain its inclusion.
2. McCain is chairman of the Bush Camaign in Arizona.
If he were seriously considereing crossing over, he would have been bounced out of there before he could do any more harm.
3. No way his ego would fit into a VP slot.
4. He has far more power as a senior Senator than he would ever have as a VP.
a. The republican senate leaders would strip him of all comittee assignments if he accepted.
b. He knows Kerry is a loser.
c. He knows he is too old to succeed Kerry in '12.
5. No way Kerry would ever pick anyone that much more popular with the press than he is.
.
After McCain spends a few months flirting with Kerry, the press and public are gonna be unhappy with whoever Kerry picks. They just won't measure up to old John.
That's the plan, to make the Kerry/? ticket start out being compared to the hypothetical Kerry/McCain ticket and looking sick.
So9