Dan Froomkin on John Dickerson on McCain

McCain Watch

John Dickerson explains in Slate why Sen. John McCain, who has been spending a lot of time in public with Bush lately, is "immune to the presidential taint":

"McCain can embrace Bush without being hurt by the affiliation because voters think he's winking as he does it. McCain's fans see his stumping for Bush and his policies as completely pro forma and insincere. 'I genuinely like him,' McCain insists to friends, referring to Bush. Remembering how roughly Bush treated him in the 2000 primaries, the friends don't believe the senator, either. . . .

"Bailing out the president in his moment of need endears him to the party powers -- or at least helps sap the force of their potential resistance to the possibility of his being nominated in 2008.

"McCain has reversed the political gravity. When Bush's approval ratings go down, other politicians fear being dragged down with him. For McCain, the worse things get for Bush, the nobler his helping hand appears."