The Hillary Conundrum

"It will be harder for independents and Dems to vote for him this year because of his position on the war, but he remains living proof that centrism doesn't necessarily mean triangulation, that there can be such a thing as a vital center, bristling with fresh ideas--on immigration, on fiscal responsibility, on global warming in his case--free from the base-driven perversions of politics."

Bull Dog Pundit chews on the Arizona senator:

"I think the NYT is missing the big picture here. They're focusing way too much on the 'horse race' aspect of the campaign.

"I think the NYT's readers would be better served in understanding McCain's problems by instead focusing on substance. The reason he is having a tough time right now is his stand on the issues important to GOP voters.

"You want the reason McCain is struggling? It's because he's hellbent on giving rights to lawbreakers already in our country, even those who committed crimes while here illegally, and giving rights to suspected terrorists - but was more than happy to take away the 1st Amendment free speech rights of legal citizens."

Translation: Immigration reform and McCain-Feingold.

"Add to that his lead role in the 'Gang of 14,' his refusal to support the president's tax cuts, and his long history of seeming to get off on poking his finger in the face of the very conservatives whose support he is now begging for, and you've got the reason for his woes."

More bad news, via the New York Sun's Ryan Sager:

"The latest Mason-Dixon poll shows Mr. McCain down to an unbelievable 7% in the state's primary. This used to be Mr. McCain's best shot at winning one of the Early Three states; now he's below Mitt Romney (a place no candidate wants to be).

"The Big Four breakdown looks like this:

"Thompson: 25%/ Giuliani: 21%/ Romney: 11%/ McCain: 7%

"Now, partially, Mr. McCain's drop has to do with Fred Thompson's surge (which could stop surging). But it also has to do with the immigration bill. And it also has to do with the general stench of death emanating from the McCain campaign (when do you readers think he drops out? September? sooner?)."