McCain's Endorsement May Hurt Romney

COMMENTARY | According to the New York Times, none other than Senator John McCain has endorsed Mitt Romney, his rival for the nomination in 2008, for president. Romney may be wise not to advertise that endorsement too much.

There is a lot that is wrong about McCain, which his record as a war hero has only partially made up for. The main thing, though, that counts against McCain and any endorsement that he has to give is the fact that he lost the 2008 election to Barack Obama. The last three years can be partially laid at McCain's doorstep.

The spectacle of a moderate senator endorsing a moderate former governor of Massachusetts is not something that is going to be edifying to the tea party conservatives who comprise the bulk of the Republican electorate and arguable a plurality of American voters as a whole. The bad memories of 2008 are bad enough. The idea that one will have to choose between Obama and someone who has been endorsed by the defeated candidate is likely to cause heart burns and tension headaches throughout the land.

The Times piece mentions Rick Santorum and inadvertently suggests another reason why McCain's endorsement may be toxic for Romney. While Santorum was in the Senate, he and McCain clashed over the issue of what is called "enhanced interrogation." McCain, who suffered actual torture while in the hands of the North Vietnamese, was against such practices, period. Santorum pointed out the good intelligence was acquired by waterboarding which led to the thwarting of a number of terrorist attacks and the saving of American lives. The intelligence even led to the eventual execution of Osama bin Laden.

McCain, who is prickly about his honor, was certainly having none of the implication that he was against doing everything necessary to save American lives. Thus his endorsement of Romney is as much payback against Santorum as it was a nod toward the former governor.

Unfortunately McCain's endorsement has left Romney vulnerable. Someone in a debate (say Newt Gingrich) might have to ask Romney how much of McCain's beliefs in subjects such as enhanced interrogation does he share. Romney's answer may be illuminating.

Source: For McCain, a Choice Between Old Enemies, Jonathan Weisman, New York Times, Jan 4, 2012