If I were a John McCain supporter, this story from today’s New York Times would concern me more than the results of the money primary, his trailing in the polls and his vanished sense of inevitability combined. Reports Adam Nagourney:

“Lagging in fund-raising and under fire for his support of the Iraq war, Senator John McCain is overhauling his campaign finance operation and delaying the official announcement of his candidacy, his aides said Tuesday.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. Team McCain has actually concluded that he’s “under fire” for his steadfastness on Iraq? How could they be so obtuse? McCain’s reliability on Iraq is quite frankly the only thing that’s keeping him afloat in conservative Republican circles. Or let’s put it this way – McCain’s not considered viable because of McCain/Feingold, McCain/Kennedy or his reputation as a loyal Republican.

Also instructive is how Team McCain probably came to the conclusion that he’s “under fire” over Iraq. Because you sensible people don’t read the leftwing blogs, you have no idea what kind of ludicrous attacks they’ve launched at McCain because of his trip to Baghdad. Josh Marshall, arguably the smartest voice in the progressive blogosphere, echoed one of his co-blogger’s opinions that McCain’s stroll through Baghdad was a Dukakis-in-the-tank moment. Oliver Willis, inarguably the dumbest voice in the progressive blogosphere, took it a little further writing, “’Brave’ John McCain Wears Kevlar Vest to Walk Around Iraq.”

One thing that is beyond questioning to people smarter than Willis (which frankly is nearly everyone) is John McCain’s physical courage. Any attacks in this regard surpass garden variety idiocy and enter the realm of rare, undiluted, 100% pure stupidity.

Furthermore, even conservatives who aren’t particularly friendly to the McCain candidacy are grateful for his visit to Iraq and his reliability on this most important issue. When McCain tussled with CNN’s Michael Ware, we all took his side.

In short, outside the leftwing media, McCain’s position on Iraq is a strength, not a weakness. Could it be that after all this time McCain really does feel like the media is his one true base of support?

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