I've said it before:

McCain Huckabee.

GOP's best bet, and the media will love it.

I still don't see McCain getting much traction in the South. But I've been wrong before. Once or twice.

McCain is actually the front runner for the nomination and the odds on favorite to win in New Hampshire.

That could be bad news for Obama.

Don't forget that McCain is the reason that Bill Bradley didn't win in New Hampshire. So many Democrats voted for McCain that it cost Bradley the win.

Imagine how different things would have been if Bradley had run against Bush

McCain may have a shot because of his chances in New Hampshire, but it's dubious to say he's the front-runner. He simply doesn't have the exposure that Huckabee and Romney do (and will, after a 1-2 finish in Iowa). And McCain's political instincts when it comes to the Republican base have usually been completely off, so if, however temporarily, he gains a media-crowned front-runner status, I'm pretty sure he'll mess it up.

That said, he certainly is the only Republican Democrats have to fear--in terms of losing the election. When it comes to governing the country, I'd certainly rather have McCain than Huckabee, Romney, Giuliani, Thompson, Paul, or any of the other also-rans.

I posted his in response to Ezra's article on Liberman this morning, but it is relevant here as well:

"McCain is clearly the most electable Republican. To say that McCain is the favored candidate of the MSM is like saying that alcohol is the favored drink of alcoholics. The press bias in a McCain race will probably be worse than 2000. And a McCain -Clinton race will likely be covered much like the Iraq war in 2003, with the MSM all embedded in the McCain campaign. Indeed, a McCain-Lieberman ticket would send the MSM (led by David Broder and Joe Klein) into an orgasmic frenzy that would be ugly to watch) and might bring along the blessing of the tired old conservative ment now pushing Bloomberg (if not that megalomaniac himself). Can McCain be all things to all voters? No problem with the fawning press he will receive. The best thing from a Democratic viewpoint would be a Romney triumph in the coming days."

FWIW, I tend to agree that McCain is probably the least horrible of a horrible bunch of Republican candidates; I'd probably vote for him if forced at gunpoint to vote in a Republican primary. But I'd prefer not to find out.

"The best thing from a Democratic viewpoint would be a Romney triumph in the coming days."

I wouldn't overlook the possibility that Romney could also win the general election. It may not seem like it right now, but just wait and see.

With all this wishful thinking going on, you might indeed want to think about which Republican you'd like to see in the White House. I'm not convinced they're dead yet.

In other words, the stubborn elitism of the DLC is going lose the Democrats this election.

While I have been worried about McCain for approximately the same reasons as you, I am increasingly seeing signs of incipient dementia. I guess you aren't supposed to say that, but there it is. It may become apparent.

McCain is worrisome. Then again, take every piece of footage showing him and W together in 2004, going on an on about Iraq, and hammer it into voters' heads for the next year.

"I am increasingly seeing signs of incipient dementia"

I agree. And I pray that the Democratic whispering campaign starts as soon as he's the nominee. Seriously.

You're right to worry. I am Democrat-leaning Independent living in Michigan. I will vote for McCain if he's opposing Clinton or Edwards, but plan to support Obama if he gets the nomination. If Clinton is the nominee, I will vote against her regardless. No more family dynasties and the same old bitter win at all cost politics please. If she's the nominee, I for one want to help send the Democratic party a message by not voting for her.

I would love to watch Rush, Hannity, George Will etc defend a McCain presidency. That would be fun. I think McCain's age would hurt him in a general election, though. At the rate the presidency aes you, I'm not sure he could take 4 years of it. On the other hand, he's currently probably the most sane of the Republican nominees.

With Obama now the front-runner, few if any Dems are going to vote for old man McCain. McCain may be the GOP candidate but he'll be toast a year from now. Independents will line up for Barack. They already are.

Obama's victory and ability to turn out independents are bad news for McCain. With the NH primary being so soon, the Iowa surge is likely to generate a very large independent turnout on the Democratic ballot, which will deprive McCain of the key to his NH victory from 2000.

After the election of Raygun and Little Bush, how stupid do you have to be to hope for the worst GOP nominee?

ANY Republican can win, we need to hope for the best nominee from both parties. It's just shallow and mindless thinking to hope for the worst under the oft-disproven idea that they'll never win the general.
Look who's sitting in the White House and buy a freakin' clue.