Andrew Sullivan has endorsed John McCain for the Republican nomination.
I find myself wanting him to be the nominee more and more. He’s deserved it. And he is the one Republican who won’t needlessly exacerbate polarization. Imagine an Obama-McCain race: adult, graceful, necessary, and good for us. On torture and climate change, McCain is also a rare Republican prepared to embrace reality rather than base-bluster. Maybe he’s going to become the Kerry of this election cycle: dismissed as old hat for months and then newly relevant in the weeks before the primaries.
Could be. Alex Knapp has been making that case for quite some time on OTB Radio and Sully’s right: The GOP could do worse.
I’m not as optimistic that a bluster-free campaign is possible, given the stakes and the incentives, but an Obama-McCain race would provide a much better chance than, say, a Clinton-Guiliani matchup.
As to the Kerry analogy, I’m hoping it doesn’t hold in all respects. For one thing, I’d hope McCain carries Ohio. And, for goodness sakes, sir, don’t wear skin tight clothing and go wind surfing.
Photo source: AP/CBS News
