So McCain needs to make an adjustment in his campaign. His strength is still national security and the idea that he could step in as "commander in chief on day one." But he can't expect to win the Republican nomination if he treats the economic issue as a marginal concern...But McCain has two problems in discussing economic issues. One, he keeps insisting his votes in 2001 and 2003 against Bush tax cuts were not a mistake. When he says that, it drives conservatives crazy and it's their votes he needs. Two, he now says he's for a bipartisan commission to deal with Social Security solvency. Conservatives regard the commission option as a way to force Republicans to raise taxes.
The most alarming thing for McCain in Michigan is that Romney beat him handily among Republicans. (McCain won independents.) One reason is his tendency, which McCain refuses to curb, to mention Democratic-sounding positions favorably, like opposition to oil drilling in ANWR and unease over global warming. This infuriates conservative Republicans, the party's base. And they will matter all the more in upcoming primaries in which only Republicans and not independents will vote...
