Changes

John Sidney McCain III (born August 29, 1936) is the frontrunner to become the presidential nominee for the Republican Party in 2008, earned as a result being the runner-up in the last contested Republican presidential primary.  Since at least 1976, the runner-up in the Republican primary has become the nominee in the next election cycle, as Republican primary voters respect seniority.

'''John Sidney McCain III''' (born August 29, 1936) is the frontrunner to become the presidential nominee for the Republican Party in 2008, earned as a result being the runner-up in the last contested Republican presidential primary.  Since at least 1976, the runner-up in the Republican primary has become the nominee in the next election cycle, as Republican primary voters respect seniority.

However, McCain may be weaker than prior front-runners.  He skipped the first primary in Iowa in 2000 because he is weak there, and only did well in New Hampshire based on strong independent support.  Those independents may flock to a more interesting Democratic primary in 2008.  McCain is likely to be weak again in the following primary in South Carolina, where independents are not allowed to vote in the [[2008 Republican Primary]].

However, McCain may be weaker than prior front-runners.  He skipped the first primary in Iowa in 2000 because he is weak there, and only did well in New Hampshire based on strong independent support.  Those independents may flock to a more interesting Democratic primary in 2008.  McCain is likely to be weak again in the following primary in South Carolina, where independents are not allowed to vote in the [[2008 Republican Primary]].

9.  John McCain, like Gary Hart and John Tower before him, is at the complete mercy of the media.  The media could destroy McCain's public reputation based on his role in the Keating Five scandal, and the media can be expected to do so in a general election.

9.  John McCain, like Gary Hart and John Tower before him, is at the complete mercy of the media.  The media could destroy McCain's public reputation based on his role in the Keating Five scandal, and the media can be expected to do so in a general election.

10. An intangible, but a very important one, is the issue of trust.  Many people, particularly evangelicals, do not trust McCain.  That can be an insurmountable problem for a presidential candidate.

10. An intangible, but a very important one, is the issue of trust.  Many people, particularly evangelicals, do not trust McCain.  That can be an insurmountable problem for a presidential candidate. However, recently, McCain has attempted to reach out to evangelical leaders to regain their trust. An example was his recent speech at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University.