Don't forget about his stance on election-season free speech.

In light of McCain/Feingold, I'd want to know if any blogger would support him for any reason other than "anyone but the Democratic candidate."

ABH would certainly drive me to the polls. I hope that it doesn't have to come to that.

I don't see McCain running as an independent, regardless of any other factors that may be involved. He possesses a degree of personal loyalty to the Republican Party itself, regardless of how he was treated in the 2000 primaries, that will prevent any party switch or purely independent run for the White House.

Simply, if he can't get in as the Republican nominee, he doesn't want the job.

In light of McCain/Feingold, I'd want to know if any blogger would support him for any reason other than "anyone but the Democratic candidate."

Yes, because he's likely to be the only true conservative in the race.

The article refers to McCain's "liberal" stand on abortion? What kind of nonsense is that? John McCain has been unequivocally pro-life his entire political career. Rudi Giuliani, George Allen, Mitt Romney, and Condi Rice can't say that. They've all been pro-choice in varying degrees. In addition, McCain opposed a same-sex marriage proposal in Arizona. The U.S. News article either was written by a 12-year-old or is just flat-out dishonest.

McCain's fiscal policy doesn't get a whole lot of attention. Does he favor increased tax cuts? Reducing government bureaucracy? Cutting back the regulatory state? Reducing other domestic spending? Is he a big fan of the Grace Commission report? In short, is he a fiscal conservative/libertarian?

He's the most anti-spending member of the U.S. Senate not named Tom Coburn. Seriously, I took a look at this recently, and over the past 5 years (since Bush's first inauguration), only Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg matches him in opposing spending, with John Sununu a close third.

McCain opposed the prescription drug bill, opposed the highway bill, opposed the energy bill, etc. etc. etc. And he's been a crusader against earmarks in appropriations bills.

His record on tax cuts and regulations are more mixed, but I can forgive him his caution on tax cuts because he's proven so committed to spending cuts. Most of the tax-cutting members of the Senate love to increase spending, too.

If he were to run as an independent, though, wouldn't that potentially split the conservative vote and effectively elect whoever the Democratic party nominates? I don't see McCain as having sufficient pull even for moderate Democrats to give him their vote if there's a chance to put their own party's nominee in the White House.