[Caipirabob]

Is that all? I mean, didn't the sinkmaster win an election with 43% of the popular vote? Jeez. Toss in the McCainiac factor once he gets drummed out of the primaries and runs as an independent and what will happen?

Please, no one should underestimate the ice queen.

[BigSkyFreeper]

McCain will be rendered a nonfactor beyond the primaries. He has to be nominated at the convention in order to be any "threat".

[wolfpat]

I agree with you.

Excuse me for being a "half empty" kind of guy, but who were the 10% of Republicans and 25% of conservatives who said they might support She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?

[G.Mason]

"Toss in the McCainiac factor once he gets drummed out of the primaries and runs as an independent and what will happen?"

Like most "nightmares" we dream about, they do no come true.

McCain had his shot, and though Americans may have short memories, they will not forget his rancor, piss poor bills, aligning the 'Gang of 14' filibuster deal, and his being a general thorn in the side of GWB & Co..

Should McCain choose to run as an independent, he would (IMHO) have little to no effect the presidential election.

[Mia T]

I don't think McCain would do that to his country.
There is a greater chance, in my view, that the radical left will field an anti-war candidate.

That said, if the GOP candidate is pro-choice, the Dems will try to make abortion the de facto Ross Perot, i.e., try to make the Right sit out the election, (and thereby place a de facto vote for missus clinton or whichever D is running).... But this will work only if the Right complies.

[lowbuck]

"Please, no one should underestimate the ice queen."

I can't agree enough. I had hoped that the GOP would have identified a "strong" player to take her on in NY.

On one hand it would make her fight and spend to keep the Senate plus pledge to stay the term. Which is a plus and she might lose and thus be politically dead.

On the other hand, it might be a chance for her and the MSM to get all the negative stuff that might come up in the 08 race out of the way. This is a big negative as if there is ever a public discussion of all her "baggage" outside of a liberal stronghold like NY then it will really hurt her.

[tcostell]

I respectfully disagree. She may be clever but she comes with a ton of baggage. I believe that the major media loves ratings even more than promoting an agenda so when she comes under the spotlight it's all going to be brought out...especially if they have a media darling "centrist" on the right like McCain.

I may be deluding myself a little, but I don't think that the American electorate cares about things like race or gender anymore where the presidency is concerned. I think the right woman could get elected to the White house, but Hillary is NOT that woman.

If Rice could put together the political infrastructure she'd have a real shot, but absent her, no woman is going to get elected next term.