I agree that McCain, with his touchy sense of honor, will see their defection as a personal insult. But I'm not sure he recognizes the degree to which the Democrats are dedicated to his destruction, nor the degree of betrayal he can expect from liberal Republicans. It's my perception that he'll keep trying to "reach out" and get their approval, since that's always been his modus operandi.
McCain is doomed to repeat GWB's mistake of trying to work with the Stalinists.
What he ought to be doing is using the Justice Department to prosecute congressional 'Rats for their myriad forms of corruption.
I am sure that he thought the left would continue to support him.
The minute he became the leader of the Rs, he became the enemy.