John McCain Getting No Thumbs Up from Rush Limbaugh

Despite John McCain's success last night in Florida, solid lead in most the states to vote on Super Tuesday, and positive image in the eyes of many Republicans and a large segment of the Independent voters, he has experienced some backlash from many notable conservative Republican leaders, including one prominent voice-Rush Limbaugh.

Limbaugh, the veteran radio show host whose views have drawn much attention and controversy over the years, has publicly come out against leading G.O.P. candidate McCain. As it is reported today on Latest Politics.com, Limbaugh said "There's a lot of anxiety among a lot of conservatives about Senator McCain. It's simply indisputable,but there was no figure in our roster of candidates who rose up to challenge him or to galvanize conservative support. All the candidates on our side, for various reasons, are uninspiring or worse and so just as I predicted the base has fractured."

Though there have been some well-noted concerns about McCain not representing some of the views of more conservative Republicans, what the G.O.P. has in McCain is a candidate who appeals to a broad range of voters-not just Republicans. McCain may be able to galvanize enough support from Independents and some right-leaning Democrats who do not like either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. While Mitt Romney, the only other Republican who appears to have a chance for a Republican nomination, has become a candidate much touted by conservative advocates (including Rush Limbaugh), he has failed to draw in enough votes to convincingly suggest he would be able to win in a general election.

So if McCain represents the best chance for the Republicans to keep the White House for at least four more years, why would Limbaugh deny the Arizona senator any enthusiasm? The Chicago Tribune quoted in an article this Limbaugh comment: "You know why [liberals] love McCain?" "He gives them cover to rip conservatives! They can support a Republican and still hate conservatives!"