Maverick-Ism And Going For The Independents

Race For The White House: Scarborough Doesn’t Need No Stinkin’ Facts To Know McCain Is A Maverick

McCain can’t possibly win without independents and crossovers, McCain has the reputation of being a maverick, so the McCain supporters are touting a new line that this is what a candidate of either party has to be to get those voters on his side – and that to establish your bona fides as a maverick you have to oppose your own party on some important issues.

These same McCain supporters (Scarborough included) have been continuing this theme, trying to hurt Obama with these key voting groups that he, at least, surely cannot win without by insisting he’s just an out-of-the-box liberal, a party-line man and definitely no maverick, voted by National Journal the most liberal person in the Senate.

Last night the bearded guy on Race for the White House tried to stir this pot, saying Obama, who already has overwhelming support from both groups and has brought them into play this primary season far more than Old Man McCain, has to prove he deserves support from independents and crossovers by behaving like McCain, the new Gold Standard (according to this Republican propaganda line) for what a guy has to do to deserve their support, by “telling the Democrats something they don’t want to hear.”

Meanwhile, as Rachel here points out, Maverick McCain has been jettisoning his departures from the party line with both hands and even his feet since the campaign got into high gear, moving steadily back toward the fold in a move toward the old Rove strategy of going all out to keep your base happy, first and foremost.

And meanwhile, Obama's softness on health care is already something the Democrats don't want to hear, as was his praise for Reagan, and as were his remarks about Republicans in his cabinet.