Prediction: McCain WILL be the GOP nominee.

And it's because he has always been their strongest candidate to run against the Democrats. He most likely won't win, but the Republicans know he's their best shot at the White House, so they'll push a conservative onto the ticket (probably Romney) knowing full well if McCain does win, he probably won't make it to the fourth year of his first term. This is why they'll keep him no matter what, unless he dies between now and November, of course. If McCain were to announce tomorrow he could not continue as the Republican nominee, the GOP would lose any chance of winning this election. And even though their shot right now isn't great, it's far better than it would be if Romney, Giuliani or Huckabee were leading the ticket.

Giuliani may have been a better candidate. As for Romney and Huckabee, I completely agree.

I think Giuliani would have started out strong, however, his background would've killed him. Plus he's almost as boring as McCain and wouldn't play to the center like McCain has been able to do.

Never mind the big picture; the Rethug base would have choked on those two issues alone.

See, I could have seen Giuliani doing well with the women vote had he run against Obama because of his more moderate pro-choice view, however, his actions toward his past wife would have done him in. Unlike McCain, everyone knows what Giuliani did to his ex-wife and that would've gone over like a lead balloon.

Gosh, I wonder why?

Too many people here tend to buy into the notion of grand conspiracies and rigging the deck at the last minute. McCain became the nominee because everyone else was worse - the Republican's don't HAVE a better candidate. If they did, and there was a secret cabal of political types, they would have put him or her up in the primaries.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6490776&mesg_id=6490776

It's title is, "Prediction: John McCain will NOT be the Republican Nominee"
It has nothing to do with conspiracies - or even politics!

If so, you didn't read my original post. I made it clear it wasn't about politics and if he is/is not the strongest candidate. It's not even about the possibility of his being able to be propped up to run a national campaign. Honestly, with all due respect, I don't think you read my entire post. Read it here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6490776&mesg_id=6490776

And you didn't read my original post. I said no matter what, even if there is some health problem, McCain will be their nominee. They stand ZERO chance of winning the White House if they run another candidate and the GOP knows this. Their goal is to put a conservative on the ticket and if McCain does die or needs to resign AS president because of health concerns, they keep the White House and get the conservative candidate they were all hoping for.

I read your post and anything short of death will keep McCain as the GOP's nominee. He has a small chance of winning in November, but it's a far bigger chance than any candidate they can get to replace him. They will prop McCain up, even with the possible health problems, and try and ride his ass to the White House. If they lose, they lose, but they understand he's their best hope and unless he's dead, they will keep him.

I think his pride as a man will prevent him from continuing if things are as I believe they are. He doesn't seem like the kind of man that would allow himself to be humiliated and that's what "propping" him up would do.

Power corrupts and McCain has shown no signs of standing up to the GOP throughout this election. In fact, McCain has always done what best suited HIS presidential interests. This is a guy who wants to be president bad, which is why he ran to the far-right shortly after the 2004 election ended. If McCain is told he's going to die regardless or that his health is not going to get any better, even if he quits his campaign, why not fight to get elected, win and die in the White House? You die there, it's a State Funeral and you become an instant legend.

The GOP will do everything in their power to keep McCain from stepping aside. McCain wants to be president and if he sees the window there, he'll take it, health be damned. I also don't think it would be much of a stretch for McCain to give up total control, since I do not think he's had much control since he received the GOP nomination.

Not even any comparison there.

Even so, it would take a major meltdown or medical emergency to pull the trigger on that deal.

Romney is boring and a major flip-flopper. Plus there is that whole Mormon thing and the fact he blew through his own money on a losing campaign. If he couldn't beat McCain in the primaries, there was no chance he'd beat Obama in the general.