Via the new Pew Poll comes evidence that McCain's broad coalition of People Who Like Him is beginning to polarize by party as he moves towards the Republican nomination. His favorability numbers among Democrats have tanked, and his ratings among independents have fallen, even if only to 51 percent. Meanwhile, Republicans seem to have discovered a newfound affection for the guy, and their recognition that he too supports endless war and upward redistribution have sent his numbers skyrocketing. None of this is particularly shocking -- in fact, expect to see the same phenomenon with Obama before very long -- but it suggests that McCain is vulnerable in exactly the ways everyone is saying he's vulnerable. As Matt noted the other day, both McCain and Obama have faced their toughest battles in primaries, and so very few voters have heard McCain attacked from the left, or Obama assailed from the right. But they will soon. YOUR WORLD IN POLLS: POLARIZING MCCAIN.
Via the new Pew Poll comes evidence that McCain's broad coalition of People Who Like Him is beginning to polarize by party as he moves towards the Republican nomination. His favorability numbers among Democrats have tanked, and his ratings among independents have fallen, even if only to 51 percent. Meanwhile, Republicans seem to have discovered a newfound affection for the guy, and their recognition that he too supports endless war and upward redistribution have sent his numbers skyrocketing. None of this is particularly shocking -- in fact, expect to see the same phenomenon with Obama before very long -- but it suggests that McCain is vulnerable in exactly the ways everyone is saying he's vulnerable. As Matt noted the other day, both McCain and Obama have faced their toughest battles in primaries, and so very few voters have heard McCain attacked from the left, or Obama assailed from the right. But they will soon. 
