Liberals would be thrilled if this was true. But McCain is distrusted by the Republican base precisely because in the past he has refused to kowtow to those elements. Of course, in his effort to win the Republican nomination he has reversed his stand on the Bush tax cuts, kissed the ring of some vile preachers on the religious right, and voted in favor of waterboarding in the Intelligence Authorization Bill.

Now, he’s a member in good standing of Bush’s Republican Party.