McCain Fighting to Recapture Maverick Spirit of 2000 Bid

During the 2000 campaign, McCain lashed out at conservative Christians, calling television evangelist Pat Robertson and Christian broadcaster Jerry Falwell "agents of intolerance." In the years since, he championed a campaign finance measure, known as McCain-Feingold, that is fiercely opposed in some GOP quarters.

He has also teamed up with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (Mass.), a liberal Democrat, on an immigration bill that many conservatives despise.

"It would have legalized and provided a path for citizenship, which is amnesty, for 66.1 million people," said Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), who has called Kennedy and McCain "amnesty mercenaries."

Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), a longtime McCain ally, said his friend must work to convince conservatives that he will support their agenda if they help to elect him president next year.

"John's obstacle is, can he repair fences to people he's alienated for different reasons?" Graham said. "And can he convince people, contrary to what others may say, that he has a 20-year conservative voting record?"

And perhaps most important for his prospects, can he do that without losing the outsider appeal that made him a household name?

"A maverick, by definition, is relatively new. It's somebody who is outspoken and surprises you," said Frank Tilton, the GOP chairman in Belknap County, N.H.

A career Army officer, Tilton is remaining neutral. But he said he does not see people "jumping on the bandwagon" for McCain. "He's been a U.S. senator in Washington for eight additional years. He may not be right down the conforming line of thought, but he's still part of the establishment."