White House Watch: McCain serious about running in 2008
Senator John McCain, who tops the GOP ratings in some political popularity polls, is moving to run for president in 2008, according to friends and associates.
"They're going. They're running," says a McCain insider. Republicans associated with the Arizona senator said that he believes he can overcome opposition from conservatives to his positions on oil drilling, abortion, and taxes by providing a forceful and popular alternative to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who right now appears to be the Democratic front runner.
Others suggest that McCain can largely ignore the conservative base of the party during the primaries and caucuses because that vote will be divided among the numerous conservatives expected to jump in. "If he can pull off 20 percent or so in the primaries and caucuses, it's his," says one GOP analyst.