Hillary Agonistes

"Obama's got his work cut out with these people when he gets the nomination. A summer of engaging and listening with rural non-college educated white folk would help."

This is McCain's environmental week, and the New York Times reports on the kickoff:

"Senator John McCain sought to distance himself from President Bush on Monday as he called for a mandatory limit on greenhouse gas emissions in the United States to combat climate change.

"Mr. McCain, in a speech at a wind power company, also pledged to work with the European Union to diplomatically engage China and India, two of the world's biggest polluters, if they refuse to participate in an international agreement to slow global warming.

"In the prepared text of his speech, e-mailed to reporters on Sunday night and Monday morning, Mr. McCain went so far as to call for punitive tariffs against China and India if they evaded international standards on emissions, but he omitted the threat in his delivered remarks. Aides said he had decided to soften his language because he thought he could be misinterpreted as being opposed to free trade, a central tenet of his campaign and Republican orthodoxy."

Probably better to decide that before you give reporters the text.

Maybe McCain was trying to avoid ticking off the likes of Bull Dog Pundit, who sees him pandering to Republicans In Name Only:

"There are many RINO's (especially in places like Montgomery County, PA) to whom global warming are huge issues, and if McCain said or did nothing to parrot their beliefs, they would vote for Obama, even though many may have reservations about him.

"So I can't slam McCain too much for doing this, although I wish it was a political move, but I actually think he believes this stuff about man-made global warming, which greatly concerns me. And like it or not, it will be an example to independents and RINO's that McCain is not walking in lock-step with us 'crazies'.

"What's comical however, is the belief that McCain singing from the same hymnal as the Democrats on this issue is somehow going to win him some younger voters.

"You've got to be kidding me. Younger voters are so enthralled with Obama and his empty but effective bromides about 'change' and 'hope' that John McCain could almost offer them free beer and pizza and it wouldn't matter."

Cindy McCain's got her work cut out for her. A Washington Times survey "asked Americans which mother has 'had the most positive influence on America,' and Mrs. McCain trailed the pack, with just 4 percent -- well below Mrs. Obama, Mrs. Clinton and top-choice first lady Laura Bush. She even trailed the fictional matriarch from 'The Simpsons,' who garnered 9 percent."