Election Night HQ

Jonathan Martin at The Politico has one of the finest blogs on politics to be found anywhere.  In his latest piece, Martin provides great insight as to how McCain’s character is trumping many potential objections to his nomination as the Republican standard-bearer in November.  Here are some quotes from the story on McCain, and the blog post where Martin notes the McCain story - “McCain Wins on Intangibles”…

NASHVILLE – Conservative unease with John McCain and the Arizona senator’s inability to win support from his party’s right wing has been much discussed and analyzed.

But there is another emerging fault line in the GOP race that may better explain better why, despite his checkered past with the party base, McCain has won consecutive contests and could wrap up the nomination Tuesday.

Put simply, McCain is winning the character contest.

In exit polls and interviews with McCain supporters, the former naval aviator and Vietnam POW has emerged as the candidate of choice for voters who make their decision based more on intangible personal attributes than on issues.

In every state since New Hampshire where exit polls have asked voters what was more important, a candidate’s position on the issues or a candidate’s leadership and personal qualities, McCain has won among those who said that character mattered more than policy stances…

“I’ve never voted for a Republican before,” admits Derek Edwards, a retired Navy lieutenant from Nashville who still managed to fit into his old flight jacket from the USS Enterprise for the McCain rally.

So why is he supporting McCain?

“He’s a great American,” Edwards observes, pausing for a few seconds before adding somewhat sheepishly, “He’s just a great American.”

It’s much the same at a subsequent rally down I-65 in Birmingham, Ala.

“To me, he’s straightforward. He’s, in my opinion, one of certainly the more honorable candidates,” says David Elsberry, hesitating before adding, “I guess I just like what he says, what he stands for.”

Asked if he’s a Republican, Elsberry, who has a son at Annapolis, says he votes for the best candidate.

“I’m an American,” he offers, clearly feeling that explains everything…

So the unique circumstances of this election appear to have aligned to allow McCain, despite his obvious flaws on issues with the party base, to now be on the verge of seizing the nomination through the strength of his character-based appeal.

Now his sympathizers hope that it will only get easier in November, with even fewer ideologically-oriented voters coming to the polls.

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