JCR Blog

National Journal's Hotline had an interesting clip today. I'm quoting it below, because I can't find the original article that they cite:

McCain's advisers say if he run's in '08, he will compete in IA. Weaver, on IA:
"Of all the states in the country, this could be the most difficult for us."
Weaver also said that if McCain wwin's[sic] in IA "in the face of social
conservative opposition, the "issue disappears" in other states (Bloomberg,
4/20)

This seems to be the strongest statement I've seen about his strategy to play in Iowa -- remember, while he was here, he was careful not to say whether he would:

McCain said today he hasn't decided whether he will run for president in 2008 or
if he would compete in Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses if he did run. McCain
has enlisted the help of former Bush campaign political director Terry Nelson
from Marshalltown and former state GOP chairman Chuck Larson to help him with
his national political effort in 2006. (Des Moines Register)

Also, seems to suggest that he may revel in having the state social conservative leadership vocally oppose him, to prove that he can still win GOP votes without them. interesting.