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An Unpredictable Front-Runner
John McCain leaned forward, his voice low and firm. "In 1994, we became the majority in both houses of Congress in order to change government. Instead, government changed us. We began to value power over principle."
It's a theme Senator McCain pressed strongly in a recent interview with Reader's Digest and will no doubt sound often in the months ahead: The Republicans were hammered in the 2006 midterm elections because "we lost our way," corrupted by special-interest money.
His voice rose as he warmed to a prime target of his wrath -- pork barrel spending. "We had begun to believe that it's our money!" he said. "Honest to God, we believe it's our money, not theirs [taxpayers']."
This is the John McCain etched deeply in our minds, the principled straight shooter with the courage to take on anyone, even a fellow Republican, if he or she somehow betrayed the public trust. It's a reputation that has made him a front-runner for the GOP nomination for President in 2008. But being a maverick is also his biggest hurdle. Conservative activists are not at all sure that McCain is one of them, and in trying to woo these kingmakers, the Senator could alienate moderates who are drawn to his aura of independence and integrity.
Whatever else, there is nothing predictable about his coming candidacy. But then, his rise in national politics was never predictable -- much less inevitable.
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