Opinion: McCain Faces Hurdles Amongst G.O.P.

Buy an ad on DigitalJournal.com

During this general election campaign for the Presidency, John McCain has gone through great lengths to portray himself as different from President George W. Bush. This was not so during the primary season, when he portrayed himself as a staunch Bush loyalist. Since becoming the presumptive nominee however, he now wants to show that he is his own man. Therein lies a Dilemma for McCain, with many of the prominent and influential republicans still embracing the policies of the current two-term president. It has been reported that many conservatives are preparing to fight the Arizona Senator to keep their vision of the party’s positions on the official platform.

All but 9 pages in the 100-page Republican Party platform mention Bush's name. In order for McCain to appeal to those who are opposed to President Bush’s there has to be big change in the platform. Republicans, a majority of whom are not pleased with McCain and are still party loyalists, are likely to challenge him at the convention.

Areas in which many Republicans activists are gearing up for a fight are on environmental issues, such as global warming, and nuclear energy. Health issues such as embryo tic stem cell research and abortion rights will also face stiff opposition if McCain attempts to change the current platform radically in order to woo independents.

"He attracts a lot of votes in the middle -- independents and moderates, but if he pushes on each one of these issues -- campaign finance, immigration, or global warming and energy issues -- he's likely to keep a lot of people at home on Election Day."

Myron Ebell, director of energy and global warming policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute

One area they will likely not be opposing at all is the Invasion/Occupation in Iraq. McCain, an early and consistent supporter of the military intervention will however attempt to point out the flaws in the current administrations handling of Iraq and show what he will do differently.

In any case the G.O.P’s convention will be a tug of war between a nominee that not everyone in the party is excited about. They will support him but they will fight for their stake in what they believe in.