By ALBERT R. HUNT
GUEST COLUMNIST FOR SEATTLEPI
The Republican political establishment is looking for deliverance from the man many have depicted as the devil, John McCain.
Republicans in Congress are petrified about a November debacle, a fear stoked on May 3 when they lost their second straight special election in a previously Republican-held district.
The party’s fundamental situation is terrible: Republicans are saddled with an enormously unpopular president, a war, a troubled economy, and a Democratic opposition that’s being energized by important constituent groups.
“The generics are as bad as anytime since I have been here,” says U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican and one of the most politically astute members of Congress in either party. Davis, a 14-year veteran of Congress, is retiring this year, frustrated at his party’s long-term prospects.
In a delicious irony, the one bright spot is McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. A few months ago, McCain spoke to the party’s caucus in the House of Representatives and said he’d campaign in any district where he was wanted and stay out of any where he’d be a liability.
[Continuation here]
Hi, this is a comment.
To delete a comment, just log in, and view the posts’ comments, there you will have the option to edit or delete them.