Goodbye, John McCain?

By Michelle Malkin  •  June 25, 2007 09:46 AM

The Times of London reports on speculation that McCain ‘08 might be dead by September 07:

The former presidential front-runner, John McCain, may drop out of the 2008 race by September if his fundraising dries up and his poll ratings continue to drop, according to Republican insiders.

The speculation, vigorously denied by McCain’s camp, is sweeping Republican circles after a disastrous few weeks in which the principled Arizona senator has clashed with the party’s conservative base on immigration and also alienated independent voters by backing President George W Bush’s troop surge in Iraq.

Randy Pullen, chairman of the Arizona Republican party, said: “He’s a battler, so I’d expect him to carry on, but everyone is waiting to see what his new fundraising totals are. That’s pretty critical. If he doesn’t have the money, he won’t be able to run.”

The second fundraising quarter for candidates closes at the end of June and McCain’s results should be known by mid-July…One veteran Republican consultant put the odds of McCain remaining in the race beyond the autumn at 3-1 against. “He’ll be gone by September,” predicted Tom Edmonds, who is not affiliated with any campaign.

“The wheels are coming off his wagon and it’s hard to see how he can recover. He won’t be able to pay all the good talent he has hired and they’ll want to drift away from a loser.”

Better late than never, I guess.

***

Related poll of the day at Right Wing News: Who’s your least favorite Republican senator?

Tough one. I went with Sen. Graham-nesty.

See what others have said

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  1. #97589
    On June 25th, 2007 at 9:50 am, WisCon said:

    Never go against the family…bye John.

  2. #97591
    On June 25th, 2007 at 9:55 am, Yashmak said:

    With any luck, other GOP supporters of the amnesty b.s. will see the connection between McCain’s support for it, and his campaign’s failure.

  3. #97594
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:02 am, Sumrica said:

    Save some bucks, John. You don’t HAVE to spend all the money. Quit now.

    Sorry. I just never have been a big McCain fan. His love of Shamnesty makes me like him less.

  4. #97596
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:03 am, Trae said:

    McCain had been a support of quite a few things I also supported, but lately (past 4-5 years or so) it’s been difficult to understand where he’s gone…

    Can’t say I’m too sad.

  5. #97599
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:03 am, ConMom said:

    Down in flames…McCain and (hope & pray) shamnesty!

    I hope the other GOP supporters of that bill see the writing on the wall for themselves, as well.

  6. #97600
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:04 am, Peejz said:

    I went for Specter. In the overall scheme of things, he has done the most damage…

  7. #97610
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:16 am, bmarkj said:

    In the article above, the AZ GOP Party Chairman just gave McCain the way to exit without having to own any responsibility for it or having it cast as a repudiation of his positions. All he has to do is blame it on the presence of so many “fringe” candidates siphoning off the available money and he comes out the vicitm rather than the soul-selling RINO he is. The media will love having him bash the right’s candidates, he can paint himself as a patriot-wronged, and he will be free to openly throw himself in the arms of his waiting lefty mistress. Oh well, as Ma Ingalls would say, “All’s well that ends well”.

  8. #97611
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:16 am, Dersu said:

    I tried to vote for Trent Lott, as he is one of my senators.
    I have been trying to call his offices for a couple of weeks now. The lines are always busy. I suspect the phones are off the hook.
    MM, do you have the resources to confirm
    whether or not his (Lott) phones are off the hook?

    Thanks again MM, Mississippi loves ya!
    We need you on radio and TV on a regular basis.

  9. #97612
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:18 am, d1carter said:

    I think John’s day has come and gone. I don’t think he was really ever into it.

  10. #97620
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:26 am, Sick of RINOs said:

    There are a lot of traitorous SOBs on that list that need to be voted out next time, including mine McConnell (I predict he’ll suffer the same fate as Tom Daschle). Hard to choose just one, but the way Grahamnesty openly sucked up to La RAZA and attacked conservatives at the same time, edged him up the list for me.

  11. #97622
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:30 am, doppelganglander said:

    I would love to see the S.S. McCain capsize. The media love him but the base certainly does not, and it would shake up the MSM to see how little power they really have. Of course, it would unleash another round of name-calling (anyone opposed to illegal immigration of course must be a racist), but it’d be worth it to see the confused looks on the pundits’ faces.

  12. #97623
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:33 am, OldGuy53 said:

    Amnesty has become the new “third rail” for politicians.
    It’ll be interesting who else will be forced from the political life when it’s over and done.

  13. #97624
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:34 am, franksalterego said:

    The “principled Arizona senator” ?

    Y’Riiiiiight.

    If he had any principles, he’d quit trying to pull the wool over our eyes, and join the Democrat Party.

  14. #97626
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:35 am, geminicontender said:

    McCain was done as soon as he befriended Teddy K.

  15. #97628
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:37 am, ar_chris said:

    John is not attractive in any presidential sense … sorry but, as in all things, you win some and you lose some …

  16. #97629
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:38 am, mbryantms said:

    I went with Trent Lott – he’s been chumming with Feinstein too much. Anyone see their Summer outfits?

  17. #97631
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:40 am, JohninLondon said:

    Everyone should vote in that poll on Least Favourite Republican senator.

    It is amazing what people like Lott, Graham, McCain and Menendez are signing up to, totally against the base and indeed large numbers of Dem voters. Does US society really want to have the kind of dramatic loss of integrity, togetherness, that you have all seen happening in Europe ? You must be crazy if you do !

    But then as an ancient Greek philosopher/playwright once said :

    “Those whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first make mad”

  18. #97633
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:46 am, dmacp said:

    Couldn’t happen to a nicer nuttier, guy.

  19. #97634
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:57 am, Bad Candy said:

    I went with Lott too. Something about Lott tells me he’ll be involved should there ever be a serious attempt at a Fairness Doctrine. He might say he doesn’t support it, I don’t trust him, Its gonna be a very rare event that I take someone in DC at their word.

    Not to mention he thinks we’re ignorant rubes who are too dumb to understand the amnesty bill. Grahamnesty might be whiny hysterical tool with this amnesty disaster, but I think Lott poses a more longterm threat to the movement.

    Not to mention Lott’s er, ‘DC diet’ is far from kosher.

  20. #97635
    On June 25th, 2007 at 10:58 am, Shay said:

    He’s sucked for years. I bet we’ll never see ICE raid his wife’s family’s beer distributorship but they need to. Good riddance.

  21. #97639
    On June 25th, 2007 at 11:07 am, DaleC said:

    If you want to support shamnesty you do not deserve to hold any office in this country.I respect what the man did years ago but see ya John.

  22. #97640
    On June 25th, 2007 at 11:08 am, Lennie said:

    I’ll be happy to see his back. He never stood a chance, really.

  23. #97642
    On June 25th, 2007 at 11:18 am, rkrugger said:

    Does anyone else see a Bloomberg – McCain ticket in 08?

  24. #97643
    On June 25th, 2007 at 11:21 am, steveegg said:

    And here I thought Tommy “The Other” Thompson would be the first out.

  25. #97644
    On June 25th, 2007 at 11:23 am, steveegg said:

    Couldn’t happen to a nicer nuttier, guy.

    Unless you’re talking about Ron Paul or the Dhimms.

  26. #97645
    On June 25th, 2007 at 11:23 am, captivated_dem said:

    I emailed Senator McCain last year, prior to the, then new,senate amnesty legislation and asked him to please help those that would help him in 2008. He’s been answering ever since.

  27. #97650
    On June 25th, 2007 at 11:28 am, Moe of MO said:

    Prediction: McCain throws in towel with reasonable grace, surprising all. Why? a) he isn’t without class; b) he wants viability for a Cabinet-level R or D appointment in 2009.

    Not much of an R for quite a while, was in the Beltway far too long.

    A genuine hero, so far above me I can’t see this chin. But self-centered (”It’s all about JM…”), and so lost touch with principles. It happens, is a sad thing.

  28. #97658
    On June 25th, 2007 at 11:49 am, quality D said:

    Goodbye John McCain. Don’t forget to write.

    As a Floridian I have a special DARK spot in my heart for Mel Martinez. He has been inaccessible to the public since he was elected. I know he is there because I see pictures of him smiling with Ted Kennedy. I also can’t get off is BS update mailing list. Mel please come out and play with your constituents. We would like to play a rousing game of “Kick Your Can!”

  29. #97664
    On June 25th, 2007 at 11:56 am, malkin_fan said:

    John,

    Thanks for many years of service to your country. It’s time for you to run(not walk) into the sunset. I hear there is a lovely bungalow up at Kennedy’s compound. You and Ted can sit there and sing Spanish songs while watching the sun set.

  30. #97665
    On June 25th, 2007 at 12:02 pm, crushliberalism said:

    Prediction: He runs with Bloomberg as VP, or he runs himself as an independent. His ego is too big to lay low.

  31. #97666
    On June 25th, 2007 at 12:04 pm, thirteen28 said:

    What a shocker! You mean you can’t repeatedly stab your own base in the back while making a spectacle of it and while courting the media that portrays said base as a bunch of mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging troglodytes and then expect said base to hand you the nomination on a silver platter?

    Who knew?

  32. #97673
    On June 25th, 2007 at 12:16 pm, The_Basseteer said:

    Na-na-na-Naaaaa….Na-na-na-naaaa…Hey… heeeeyyyyy…Good-bye

  33. #97674
    On June 25th, 2007 at 12:17 pm, feralcat said:

    Don’t worry John, if you can’t be President of The United States, maybe you can be President of Tysons Foods. They owe you.

  34. #97681
    On June 25th, 2007 at 12:24 pm, Fodder_Jack said:

    What??? You mean the Mexican illegals aren’t contributing to McCain’s coffers?

    I’m shocked!

  35. #97690
    On June 25th, 2007 at 12:33 pm, twoninerkilo said:

    Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!

  36. #97691
    On June 25th, 2007 at 12:34 pm, RobM1981 said:

    Gotta go with Lott, and his enlightened view of Talk Radio.

    Trent, you’re not going to try and take my keyboard next, right?

  37. #97693
    On June 25th, 2007 at 12:37 pm, TMoney said:

    Maverick. Quick definition: unbranded.
    I branded him liberal long ago.

  38. #97695
    On June 25th, 2007 at 12:40 pm, HYTEAndy said:

    I also voted for Arlen Specter. McCain is bad (and maybe worse) than Specter, but with the name recognition St. John has, he doesn’t get a lot of slack from the public.

    Specter, however, is not as well known to the general public and thus, his “moderate, if not liberal” policies have a, shall we say, “subversive” and negative effect on America.

  39. #97704
    On June 25th, 2007 at 12:54 pm, Ragnar said:

    Note to McCain supporters:

    You’ve been backing a good man, but if/when you decide to look elsewhere, we’d certainly welcome you with open arms to the FredHead fold.

    Go Fred!

  40. #97708
    On June 25th, 2007 at 12:58 pm, tyrion said:

    McCain doesn’t want to oppose Fred! anyway, have his old friend put the beat-down on him. McCain wears Fred_Thompson pajamas to bed.

  41. #97721
    On June 25th, 2007 at 1:25 pm, kbiel said:

    I voted for Specter. Sen. Graham-nesty is mostly harmless, but Specter has always been a PITA and controls the judicial committee. Even in the minority, he has control as the republican senator who is most likely to vote with the dems.

  42. #97726
    On June 25th, 2007 at 1:38 pm, Desert Rat said:

    Now if only we could get rid of him in the senate . . . just wishful thinking.

  43. #97745
    On June 25th, 2007 at 2:21 pm, Yashmak said:

    Sad part is, it wasn’t too many years ago that I would’ve cast a vote for the guy.

    Now, the only way I’d vote for him is if it was between him and Obama or Hillary.

  44. #97845
    On June 25th, 2007 at 6:40 pm, rmwarnick said:

    I was a strong supporter of Senator McCain in 2000. But he lost me for good last October when he supported the Military Commissions Act, legalizing torture and suspending habeas corpus.

  45. #98319
    On June 26th, 2007 at 5:08 pm, Ombre Rose said:

    “The vote of your opponents is the most honorable mark by which the soundness of your conduct could be stamped. I claim the same honorable testimonial. There was but a single act of my whole administration of which [the opposing] party approved… And when I found they approved of it, I confess I began strongly to apprehend I had done wrong, and to exclaim with the Psalmist, ‘Lord, what have I done that the wicked should praise me?’”
    –Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 1812. ME 13:162

    The wheels on McCain’s wagon cannot come off fast enough, as far as I am concerned.

    There was a time when “Principled” didn’t just mean sticking to your guns, it meant sticking to VIRTUOUS positions, and having a high moral character.
    THAT definition just doesn’t fit the Gang of 14 leader who came out with McCain Feingold in retaliation for losing the election in 2000, and had to depend on Arizon DIM CROSSOVERS to retain his Senate seat.

  46. #98930
    On June 27th, 2007 at 4:48 pm, tniles said:

    Sen. McCain, enjoy the retirement that you will be receiving compliments of the American people. I respect your service, but not your stances.

  47. #98992
    On June 27th, 2007 at 5:53 pm, RedRepub said:

    I feel almost as good as the day Frist dropped out!

    Maybe Bloomberg will ask him to be a running mate.

  48. #99041
    On June 27th, 2007 at 6:48 pm, zcondren said:

    I respect McCain for his service and wish him a long life. But he is not the man for the Job.

  49. #99826
    On June 28th, 2007 at 9:21 pm, JWS said:

    I live in the Phoenix area and I have no idea how any pole puts him above 1% in terms of popularity. To change the subject, his bud Kyle was on a bunch of talk radio shows today ( btw, they really need to be censored – they all let him speak his mind..). This guy STILL doesn’t get it. Another “lifer” who needs to go away…

  50. #99849
    On June 28th, 2007 at 10:42 pm, puhiawa said:

    Amnesty, Shamnesty. Bye John. I guess you were just to smart for us hicks.

  51. #100784
    On July 2nd, 2007 at 4:27 pm, Bill Grant said:

    He is a good man, but his stance on the immigration bill lost him my support.

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