In his Evans-Novak Political Report today, sent by e-mail, Robert Novak had some very interesting info on the John McCain campaign:
Within McCain's circle, there is a feeling of dread over the candidate's relatively poor fundraising in the first quarter. The belief is that if McCain does not reach his stated goal of raising more than $20 million in the second quarter, he may have to shut down the campaign and give up on the presidency.
I find it amazing that you need $20 million in the second quarter of 2007 to compete in the first quarter of 2008, but I guess that's the reality we live in nowadays. Bizarre. Regardless, I think that McCain is toast, not because of his money situation, but because he's lost the "straight talk" aura of 2000 and also because he's wildly on the wrong side of public opinion about Iraq. Not a good combination, to put it mildly.
He's had multiple recurrences of melanoma which is not good. He's had a long, tough fight on that front and I hope he wins that battle.
Bottom line is John may not have the strength to continue on in elected poltics.
Though most of his ideas are a bit too conservative for most people, I hope he continues to voice his opinions. Though no fan of of much Mr. McCain's politics, I am sincerely grateful for his service to our country in the Vietnam War.