That is 2008 article originally from Bob Novak or John Fund based on the word of John Fund's recollection of a conversation years prior when Alito was nominated. McCain denied making that comment. He said, he said. That's not enough to take to a jury when the other evidence is weighed - the voting record. What is McCain's record in clinch situations? How he votes when it makes a difference is far more important than how he votes when it doesn't.
Which would you rather have--someone who voted conservatively except on issues that were within two votes of passage, when he voted with leftists, or someone who votes with leftists except on issues that are within two votes, when he'll vote conservatively?
I have to check a lot of the roll calls on other issues. I think Alito was 58-42 or around that. Clarence Thomas was 52-48. That was within three votes, and 11 dems voted for it (with 2 republicans against it - Jeffords and Packwood). If McCain caved there, I think fellow Arizona senator DeConcini (D) and at least one other probably wouldn't have gone along with Thomas.
McCain isn't perfect. Some things he drives me up the wall on, like Global Warming. On other things he's great, like pork spending. On judges, he's not Santorum, but not bad either.