With six months to go until the Primaries kick off it seems like John McCain who was once thought of as the heir apparent, and a shoe-in for the GOP nomination could be about to announce he's withdrawing from the race for the White House. There has been a lot of "chatter" of late about his massively inept campaign finance management, and twice in the past week he has had to publicly announce that he's not withdrawing - usually a sign in politics that they're about to. He's reshuffled his staff twice in the past month, and his campaign manager has also reigned. Will his withdrawal consolidate Romney at the top? I would have thought that McCain's supporters would be more inclined to go for Romney than Giuliani. What about Thompson? In almost every poll he comes in a very strong third without even having declared as yet. Is he afraid of the public scrutiny as a declared candidate, or is he just not sure if he wants the job or not? Does anyone on the Forum think that anyone other than those two (or three counting Thompson) is in with any kind of realistic chance for the GOP nomination if McCain withdraws?

McCain was never a viable candidate, he's an old man, and winning the nomination involves 20 hour days, and standing outside in February in the New Hampshire winter. The race would either kill him or leave him looking even older and more pathetic than he looks now.
As if that was not enough, McCain positions himself as the "continuity" candidate, the man most likely to continue what Bush has done with the fewest changes. No wonder the money people won't talk to him.

So now he's just an old man with no money, his presidential ambitions are done, he just doesn't know it yet.

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“ The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state.”

Adam Smith , The Wealth of Nations 1776

"We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics"
FDR's second Inaugural Address

McCains' lament : Bush killed his chances for the Presidency - twice.

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Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life

It's all those gay sweaters.

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"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

I think what hurt McCain is the immigration issue. If he does bow out, I imagine that his supporters would favor Guliani more than Romney. If Thompson does get into the race, I think it's a toss-up of who ex-McCain supporters would support - Guliani or Thompson. Who knows; it's simply speculation on my part.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition