Will McCain advisor dump John if Obama gets nod?
by Frank James

Way back in distant political history, say last June, when Sen. Hilllary Clinton had a commanding lead in national polls over Sen. Barack Obama, the Cox Washington Bureau "WIndow on Washington" blog ran an interview with Mark McKinnon, a political consultant and friend to both President Bush and Sen. John McCain.

McKinnon heaped praise on Obama and said something rather remarkable, that if Obama turned out to be the Democratic nominee, McKinnon would stop working for McCain since the consultant didn't want to oppose Obama whose candidacy he saw in singular terms.

 
  Q: Are you committed to working for and supporting McCain no matter who the Democratic nominee is? 
  
  McKinnon: If the Democratic nominee is Barack Obama, I will not work in the general election. I will, however, still support and vote for John McCain. I just don't want to work against an Obama candidacy. I think a McCain vs. Obama race would be a great choice for the country.
  
  Q: Have you decided to back Sen. Obama if he is the Democratic nominee? 
  
  McKinnon: Not if John McCain is the nominee. (McKinnon said it is "too hypothetical" to say whether he would vote for Obama over a GOP nominee other than McCain.) 
  
  Q: What is it about Obama that attracts you? 
  
  McKinnon: I don't think Barack Obama needs the mirror of politics to reflect who (he) is. I think he has deep character and good judgment. I also think he's wrong on some fundamental issues. But, I believe he is honest and independent and if he were elected, I think it would send a great message to the country and the world. (McKinnon said Obama is "wrong on Iraq and pulling out troops too early.")
  
  
  Q: How does Obama's race impact his chances of becoming president? 
  McKinnon: I think Obama's race could actually make it more likely he could be president. I think Americans would vote for an African-American in a heartbeat. Had Colin Powell run, I think he would have been president.
  

The way things are looking, McKinnon could be facing that tough choice that last June seemed merely theoretical.

(Baltimore Sun)