Critics Say McCain Is Waging the Previous Campaign

From Chief White House Correspondent Kenneth T. Walsh

It's a common refrain among Republican insiders, even admirers of Senator John McCain: They say he is waging the last campaign when times have changed, and that's why he has cratered in the polls.

"John has been trying to bill himself as the inevitable nominee and the Establishment candidate, with a huge number of endorsements from party officials," says a GOP strategist who is advising another presidential campaign. "But he can't sustain that image when he has fallen behind."

McCain also is losing his luster as a maverick who appeals strongly to independents, because he is a firm backer of President Bush's policy to achieve "victory" in Iraq, an increasingly unpopular war. Finally, McCain remains anathema to many conservatives who just don't trust him to aggressively represent their views.

All this adds up to big trouble for the "new" McCain. The consensus among many of his admirers is that he would have been better off running again as maverick, an independent thinker, and a straight talker--not emulating the approach taken by George W. Bush, who beat him for the GOP nomination in 2000 by being the Establishment conservative.

"That approach worked in 2000 but it's not the right one for 2008," says a former McCain supporter who hasn't taken sides yet for '08. "He's lost his edge." For their part, McCain strategists say he will prove the critics wrong. He has staying power, nation-wide name recognition, the capacity to raise lots of money, and a voting record that is more conservative than his adversaries say.

All this will become clear in the coming months, McCain's allies argue. They add that Giuliani is peaking too soon and he will fade when Republicans become more aware of his vulnerabilities.

Etc.: McCain Wants to Appear Inevitable, on USNews.com