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McCain's Battle Turns
Uphill Despite Strong Showing, McCain Falls to Bush Machine John McCain emerged as the biggest fish in some of the nation's smallest ponds after Tuesday's primary, but when the delegates were counted, Bush proved himself to be the great blue whale of the Republican party. In the states that really mattered,
it wasn't even close. Though Bush beat McCain in New York's popular vote
50 percent to 43 percent (Keyes and others accumulated 7 percent) he walked
away with 65 of the states 82 delegates. With 50 percent of the votes
counted in California, Bush led McCain 60 percent to 35 percent; the winner
take all primary holds 162 delgates for the Republican victor. McCain reigned supreme in New England, however, winning all 37 of Massachusetts' delegates and 65 percent of the popular vote to Bush's 32 percent. All 12 of Vermont's delegates went to McCain, who beat Bush 61 percent to 35 percent. Connecticut represented the closest New England contest with McCain taking 49 percent to Bush's 46 percent. The victory earned McCain 25 delegates. Having won New England, Michigan,
and of course Arizona, McCain has caused enough disruption in the already
splintered Republican Party to cause serious concern for Bush in the fall.
Conventional wisdom holds that presidential campaigns are held between
the 40 yard lines. In other words, the majority of voters will vote along
party lines and the real contest lies in attracting the centrists. Though McCain has established a conservative record throughout his political career, he was able to emerge in the primary race as the moderate Republican. Bush's early claim to the tag "compassionate conservative" became conspicuously irrelevent as McCain posed more of a challenge. By occupying the center ground, McCain fell out of favor with the radical right of his party, but he also forced his opponent precariously close to the evangelical element of the Republican Party. Democrats lured over by McCain's charisma probably won't vote for Bush. Republicans fed up with the Christian Coalition's influence over the party might very well look for an alternative to Bush. Though Bradley did little to damage Al Gore in the eyes of the Democratic faithful, McCain has wounded Bush, and the entire party in the process. With his vast economic reserves, Bush will have to invest in some bridge building as he challenges a united Democratic Party.
For more election results, see CNN |
