Depends, Goldwater was anti deficit, and anti Religion in effecting government, that is a bit of McCain, not the whole package, but there are elements.
I’ve got to say, I look back on those MSM stories about McCain need to dump Sarah Palin and I laugh...hard...she ain’t going anywhere, let the Reagan Revolution’s progeny meet today’s challenges....
When I think of Goldwater, I think of this quote:
“The turn will come when we entrust the conduct of our affairs to men who understand that their first duty as public officials is to divest themselves of the power they have been given.”
I like to test politicians by it. According to his speech, McCain clearly fails. I cannot remember Palin’s speech in enough detail to say whether or not she fails. I just wish there was a politician with the guts to stand up at a convention (or a county fair, for that matter), say something as brief and powerful as the quote above, then sit down and let it sink in.