When will McCain quit the campaign?

[jcrew2001]

I'm surprised at McCain's quick downfall, assumed it would go down much later and that he might even be the GOP nominee, but it seems like everyone has wised up a lot earlier. I'm glad he's going down in flames.

Here's a story from my local paper:

http://thephoenix.com/article_ektid36865.aspx

The biggest story of the campaign so far has been the semi-collapse of John McCain. Long expected to be the GOP front-runner and probable nominee, he has, instead, found his campaign foundering in second place, trailing Rudy Giuliani by double digits. Fundraising isn’t going as well as planned, and even reporters are finding that the charming “Straight Talk Express” of eight years ago lacks allure this time around. Now there’s even talk that his old friend and supporter Fred Thompson may enter the race and challenge him.

[Colobo]

1. By August, I think.

He knows he's done, but he won't give up yet, although he should.

[jcrew2001]

15. Maybe he make a comeback like Kerry haha

but Rudy and Mitt are no push-overs like Dean.

Also, McCain is far weaker and aged compared to Kerry's resiliance.

[karynnj]

23. Dean was not a push over

He had far more credentials as a governor who actually got things passed in VT, rather than a MA governor where the Democratic legislature could override any vetos.

[AshevilleGuy]

2. He is ... useful to us for a while longer, I think.

He draws money away from Republik candidates who could beat us. He is making a fool of himself every few days, and that bleeds off on repukes in general.

[Hieronymus]

7. Excellent point .. let him drain the coffers.

[David Zephyr]

3. As soon as he and Lieberman figure they can "go independent" with their egos.

Nothing can stop these two egomaniacs.

[waiting for hope]

4. He's used up - I can get more

life out of week old kitty litter with a scoop here and there and some Frebreeze. Everything that he has done in the last year has been under a microscope and frankly, he doesn't have the charisma or charm to pull anything off - including himself. KO started it back with one of his Special Comments, can't remember which but it was a good one.

[rurallib]

5. I think he'll hang in for a couple of humiliating defeats

Unless his health fails.

[Bitwit1234]

6. With all this negative stuff coming out

he might not even be re-elected as senator.

[burythehatchet]

8. Last June

[bbinacan]

9. McCain will drop out

when Fred Thompson enters the race. As Democrats, I think we should be worried about Thompson.

[jcrew2001]

25. Only if Sam Watterson is his VP

they'll have to pull the L&O reruns

[bbinacan]

33. That's good. LOL n/t

[saltpoint]

10. McCain has just scheduled his announcement speech for a.m., April 25th.

He could save himself some trouble by scheduling his withdrawal announcement later that afternoon.

[Bullet1987]

11. I was telling people months ago that McCain was...

...not going to get the nomination. It's just happening a LOT earlier than I thought it would.

As soon as he and Lieberman figure they can "go independent" with their egos.

I actually hope he runs as an independent in 2008...that's almost guranteed to split the Republican vote, and the Dem candidate will walk right in (hoping Diebold doesn't get involved again).

[saltpoint]

12. He sounds as if he's already defeated. When he talks, there isn't

that much air going through his throat -- or something. He just sounds beat.

[Rusty MacHenry]

13. I hope soon

Cause it's really sad anymore to see him kissing Bush's ass like it's a good thing. Plus he can't win. Why was he so popular when he ran in 2000? why was he appealing to moderate republicans,Democrats and independents? cause he was truly the outside candidate, the maverick. He was pro-choice, he was a republican that said something when wrong was occurring, he stood up o the god awful religious right.

Now what happened. It's 2007 and he has called for the overturn of roe v. wade, he has now aligned himself with the religious right and he has seriously started kissing Bush's ass and being one of his poster boys for this brutal Iraq war which so many american now oppose.

So what does Johnny boy McCain have to offer? NOTHING. absolutely nothing. He has went from the outsider to the insider candidate that will do and say anything to get elected even if it meant coming out for everything he was against.

McCain because of this is old news, a betrayer. Watch for McCain to be one of the first to drop out.

Am I right about everything I said though?

[Colobo]

14. McCain/Lieberman! Love it!

Let them take some votes away from the GOP!

[Justice]

18. he is not announcing on April 25 - he postponed it, he is giving a

speech at VMI I believe that day instead, but it is not an announcement.

[saltpoint]

21. Oh. I hadn't heard that update. Thanks for the info.

Maybe McCain will be gone before then -- out of the race. Charlie Cook has just said on Diane Rehm's NPR program that McCain has an intrinsic dislike of fundraising, that he really is the McCain of McCain-Feingold, and that it hobbles his chances for competing the way Romney competes for Thug donations.

[ProgressiveAmPatriot]

16. He's is in this till the bitter end

He sold his his soul to try to be President, he isn't going to quit until he gets his moneys worth. Today his campaign announced that they are turning to the huge donations. So much for campaign finance reform.

[AlCzervik]

17. i don't know if he'll drop out until he doesn't win the nod or not but he

really ruined his own chance, he should have stayed the angry McCain and quite frankly he should have attacked Bush non stop after South Carolina, he never should have backed down and then started kissing Chimpoleon's ring. I would never vote him but at least if he had gone balls out i would have had some respect for him.

[salin]

19. He is the Lieberman of this election cycle.

He will limp to the first primaries and subsequently (and bitterly?) bow out.

[KingofNewOrleans]

30. Exactly, McCain will be out after NH

when he finishes in a 3-way "tie" for 3rd.

[JNelson6563]

20. Not soon enough, that asshole

Ugh.

[Czolgosz]

22. McCain will leave the campaign after Gilmore, Hunter, and Huckabee and before March 2008

[Javaman]

24. i think mclame blew his foot off when he did his little security laden

stroll through the "safe" section of Baghdad.

That was so friggin stupid, it's blinding.

[SteppingRazor]

26. He's in till at least January.

He'll drop after he loses Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire.

[saltpoint]

27. Good. As long as he drops out. If he loses Iowa, Nevada and New

Hampshire, the incentive for his candidacy, already strained, will evaporate completely.

He can string up the hammock back in Arizona and watch re-runs of BONANZA with Cindy and the kids.

[zulchzulu]

28. McCain will be in the race until Super Tuesday

This time for him now is just a bump in the road. He'll make it to the primary season but will get his hat handed to him midway by Romney. Guiliani will be a distant third.

[jcrew2001]

29. I still think Rudy will be the nominee

He has very high name recognition and republican drones only care about Names that they remember, cuz thinking would be too difficult.

Romney is a strong candidate in my opinion, but i just don't think he can beat Rudy, especially in the bigger states like CA, NY, Florida for the primaries.

Romney is the closest thing so far to the establishment/insider candidate. Rudy is definately a new york outsider, this could have an affect on his grassroots get out the vote, but so far things seem to be okay. I'm skeptical at how much insider/consultants can do for Romney, unless they slime Rudy with everything.

That's Romney's only chance - he needs to slime Rudy like there's no tomorrow - attack ad after attack ad.

Rudy's trump card is a strong national defense image, which exceeds Romney's paltry one term exp. Rudy's trump card is 9/11 leadership.

[DFW]

31. He'll be around

...for a good while, unless his physical condition doesn't hold up, in which case he
can bow out gracefully. His POW story will underpin his efforts to hold on until the
primaries go against him, which I predict they will big time.

Once the primaries show the writing on the wall, he'll read it, deny it, and then accept it
if Mother Nature doesn't force him out beforehand.

[MasonJar]

32. He became what he is not. By catering to the Christian right wing,

he lost the other voters who might have considered backing him. Most everyone is fed up with hypocrisy after the Bushistas.