Why John McCain won’t be the GOP’s Presidential Nomination in 08

As everyone knows, Senator John McCain, Republican from Arizona, is running for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. However, many prominent Republican media personalities including Ann Coulter, James Dobson, and Rush Limbaugh don’t support McCain for many reasons. With little support from big Republican honchos who can persuade the mass conservative base who to vote for, McCain will most likely lose the nomination. McCain will have trouble gaining the presidential nomination for many reasons including “flip-flopping” on issues, his age, and because there are other, more appealing and qualified Republican candidates.

McCain has “flip-flopped” on many issues including his positions on ethanol as an alternative fuel, Roe v. Wade, and other issues. According to the November 12, 2006 airing of Meet the Press, McCain said he now supports ethanol as an alternative fuel, but until recently, he was against it. In 2005 he voted with “ethanol's critics” against Senate legislation which “would require 8 billion gallons of ethanol to be blended with U.S. gasoline by 2012.” Moreover, it was mentioned in a February 19, 2007 issue of the Boston Herald that he is for overturning Roe v. Wade, but wasn’t previously. He also changed his stance on others issues such as Bush’s tax cuts, torture of prisoners, and the use of the Confederate flag in southern states. Not only is his flip-flopping a potential problem, but his age could be a negative factor.

McCain will turn 72 in 2008, which will make him three years older than Ronald Reagan when he was elected in 1980. He would be 77 at reelection time in 2012, and 81 at the end of his second term, if he gets reelected. Americans saw how his age could be a problem during President Bush’s recent State of the Union Address. During President Bush’s speech, the cameras panned toward McCain and it looked as if he was sleeping, even though he said he wasn’t. No doubt, as a result of that glimpse of his slip in stamina, McCain is trying to appear younger and more hip. After all he announced his run for the Republican nomination on David Letterman’s TV show. There are other Republican candidates who are better choices, to appeal to the Republican base, the moderate Democratic voters, and the Independent voters.

Among Republican candidates that most likely would better represent the Republican Party and gain Democratic and Independent votes include Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Newt Gingrich, Sam Brownback, and Chuck Hagel. The fact that John McCain is older and was caught on national TV looking like he was sleeping is an image that will most likely stick in American minds and will ultimately hurt him. Even though other Republican candidates, such as Chuck Hagel are almost McCain’ age, Hagel seems to be more consistent on his issues and will most likely have an easier time gaining support among top Republicans. With other Republican candidates with a broader appeal, McCain’s chances of garnering the nomination are slim. With this said, I will not vote for John McCain in the 2008 Republican primary!

Mark Congdon Jr. '08
Wilkes University Student
Communications Studies Major