McCain on the ropes - will he quit?

[JeffL]

McCain's got less campaign money than Ron Paul by some accounts, and top people are abandoning his campaign.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070711/D8QAMOPO0.html

How much longer can he go on? And how did it go so wrong so fast? McCain's aids say that when McCain declared himself strongly in favor of the immigration bill, the money really started to dry up, plus he's been unwaveringly in support of the war in Iraq.

[noun]

McCain's been the Sony of presidential candidates. He's been doing nothing BUT alienating his base and putting his foot in his mouth since the beginning. Good riddance.

[Jason McCullough]

Enh, he'll probably stay in until he's mathematically eliminated. These guys always wait for lighting to hit the front runner or something.

[Phil_Stein]

John Kerry was in bad shape around this time in 2003. Things don't look good for McCain right now, but there's plenty of time left.

[Lizard_King]

John Kerry was in bad shape around this time in 2003. Things don't look good for McCain right now, but there's plenty of time left.
McCain won't be running against George W. Bush, or for that matter much of what he stands for...I predict the late-run bump will be a lot less significant without that factor.

[Ben Sones]

How much longer can he go on? And how did it go so wrong so fast?

He turned his back on all the people who liked him (moderates) to court a group of people that were not likely to ever like him (religious fundamentalists, neocons). In the end, he ends up with nothing. Disappointing, but not too surprising.

[Linnaeus]

He turned his back on all the people who liked him (moderates) to court a group of people that were not likely to ever like him (religious fundamentalists, neocons).

Yep. Until he started courting the religious right I was thinking I might actually vote for him if he took the nomination, depending on the lineup. Now it's looking like it'll be another spoiler vote year.

[ydejin]

Yep. Until he started courting the religious right I was thinking I might actually vote for him if he took the nomination, depending on the lineup. Now it's looking like it'll be another spoiler vote year.

I agree. I would have voted for him, right up to the point where he decided to be the graduation speaker at Falwell's Liberty University. I think at that point it became clear that he was willing to sell out his principles to get elected.

[BlueJackalope]

John Kerry was in bad shape around this time in 2003. Things don't look good for McCain right now, but there's plenty of time left.

Kerry loaned his campaign (actually the Heinz katsup fortune loaned) a few mill at this point. I don't think McCain has that kind of personal scratch. But I don't think he will drop out.
He can stay in the race by just doing townhall/retail style stuff. Paint his face and live off the land like Edwards did. He spent five years hanging from his thumbs and he didn't quit, this isn't much worse.

McCain wont withdraw until some votes are actually taken.
If I was a GOP voter and when it came down to actually pulling a lever for one of these guys, I'd still have to think McCain is the only one who has a chance of beating Obama/Hillary/Edwards. That can go a long way.