McCain – Too good to be president?

From this and years past, it’s hard to imagine the Senator from Arizona playing the machiavellian, wily slugfest that is winning the presidency.

Touting your arch rival for the Republican nomination more than a year before the election is not exactly what politicians today would call game plan for D-day (wouldn’t the world be a wonderful place if they did?)

Can McCain with his good will and urbane disposition take on what would most likely become an ugly brawl with America’s mayor? Going by their respective addresses at the ’04 RNC, it seems like Giuliani can kill an opponent with words alone (remember, he doesn’t need the guns!) but McCain is far too gracious even with his democratic colleagues. What’s more, he’s not known to repudiate when he’s villianized (think 2000).

And if his opponent for the primaries is tough, crime-fighting, relentless go-getter Giuliani, it seems like old John will have to give up his graces somewhere down the road to the nomination. But then again, isn’t that what people love about him – that polished language and bipartisan outlook – sticking up for buddy Kerry during the swift boat episode, standing by Bush even after W dragged him through the mud in ’00, hardly ever saying a dirty word about his opponents and yet sticking to his guns about the things he believes in?

Seems like it will be a tough pickle. And boy, will he need the juices.