Positioning for 2008 begins

There is great speculation as to which and how many Democrats will run for their party’s nomination in 2008. Hillary Clinton tops most lists, and some even have John Kerry trying again. But it’s too soon to give much serious thought about this particular subject. All we can do is sit back and watch as the Democrats try to figure out what to do to get their party back into the mainstream of America.

But today NewsMax reports that Republicans have begun thinking actively about who will run to replace George W. Bush in 2008, and John McCain is already heading in that direction.

NewsMax reports that McCain talked openly of his plans during a recent visit to London.

There, he and his Senate ally, Senator Lindsey Graham, met with leading political and media figures for lunch. They left their audience with little doubt a 2008 race was in the works.

A source who attended the lunch said, "McCain never said he decided, but it was clear he was preparing to run."

McCain acknowledged that his age, 72 if elected in 2008, might be an obstacle, but not an insurmountable one.

McCain told the audience that John Kerry had asked him to jump party lines and join him on the 2004 Democratic ticket.

McCain said had he done so, Kerry would have certainly won the 2004 election. But McCain said he was a lifelong Republican and such a move would not have been good for the country.

Though McCain said he has supported President Bush, our source said all of his references to President Bush "had a total lack of warmth."

McCain has been a pretty good soldier, leaving aside the obvious “looking-out-for-what’s best-for-John-McCain” behavior. He supported his party when that support was needed, and that earns him some points. But McCain, like Bush, is not a true conservative, and what the country needs in 2008 is a true conservative.

We’ll just have to sit back and watch this contest develop, too.