McCain Survives Talk Radio Opposition

Arizona Senator John McCain of Arizona emerged victorious from yesterday's Florida Republican primary election contest, defeating former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and moving the long-time GOP hopeful closer to securing his party's nomination.

Noted conservative radio talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin had been especially critical of McCain in recent weeks, with Limbaugh arguing that adherence to conservative principles was more important that whether or not McCain could beat the Democratic nominee in the general election. Limbaugh said on his syndicated radio show yesterday, "It doesn't come down to electability with me." Hannity and Levin have followed the same line, arguing that McCain's political record is more reflective of liberal ideology than of conservative ideology.

McCain's victory in Florida gives the Arizona Senator a significant boost heading into next Tuesday's multitude of state contests, dubbed "Super Tuesday." Significant McCain victories in Super Tuesday states could help him lock up the Republican nomination for president. Robert McMahon, writing in a daily analysis brief for the Council on Foreign Relations, says McCain's victory in Florida means he is attracting wide support beyond what is normally considered his base.

One of Limbaugh's main points about McCain has been that much of the Senator's support came from independents who were allowed to vote in Republican primaries in states holding early electoral contests. McCain was expected to face a tougher test in Florida, where only Republicans can participate in the Republican primary. McCain's victory yesterday seems to suggest that he can attract conservative voters. Together McCain and Romney secured two-thirds of the votes in Florida, with Rudy Giuliani placing a distant third. Giuliani is expected to withdraw his candidacy today and throw his support behind McCain.

McCain was able to pull off his victory in Florida, says Jay Cost of Real Clear Politics, by forging a coalition of support similar to the ones he put together in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Cost says McCain won big with conservatives who were unhappy with President Bush, voters concerned about the state of the American economy, and Republicans placing a high priority on the conduct of the war on terrorism.

Among Democratic candidates, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton won by a sizeable margin over Illinois Senator Barack Obama, but the Democratic Party stripped Florida of its Democratic delegates as a penalty for moving up the date of its primary.

Sources: RushLimbaugh.com, CFR, RealClearPolitics.com