There's been lots of good discussion about whether we should fear John McCain, and I'd have to dissent with Ezra and say that I'm not all that worried. Oh, I'd be worried if Hillary were still the likeliest nominee, but I don't think that anymore after they changed the primary calendar. John Edwards can swing the populist sledgehammer better than anyone else in American politics. And whatever else McCain may be armored against, it's that old hammer that can shatter him.
McCain has voted against the most popular issue in American politics -- increasing the minimum wage -- every time it's been successful. (Polls show 83-14 and 82-6 majorities in favor of an increase.) He's supported CAFTA and all the other free-trade-agreements-that-aren't. He strongly supports privatizing Social Security and cutting taxes for rich people. Like Rob, I think McCain looks like Bob Dole -- just another old patrician war hero from the Senate who loses to a charismatic working-class Southern Democrat.
