Bob Cusask, The Hill. is reporting what could be John McCain’s political obituary, “Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP [1]:’
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions.
In interviews with The Hill this month, former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and ex-Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.) said there were nearly two months of talks with the maverick lawmaker following an approach by John Weaver, McCain’s chief political strategist.
Of course, McCain is denying the report. Blog reax: skeptical [2], hurts [2], buried [3], and torpedoed [4].
To continue the naval analogy, the allegations don’t have to torpedo McCain’s campaign. The campaign is already floundering, and taking on water. It would not take a torpedo finish it off. Heck, I don’t think that would even need a deck gun. McCain is simply not well trusted by the republican base, the price of being a maverick to woo the media. He can ill afford to have yet more doubts raised about his party loyalty.
This does clear the deck for Chuck Hagel, as the last remaining maverick standing.