Ditat Deus

He certainly does if you are John McCain.

McCain has never faced a serious primary challenge, and his election has then been secured by his popularity among Independents in a state where they, Republicans and Democrats are pretty much even.

However, primaries in Arizona are closed. Independents cannot vote in them. And this year, it is now as good as certain that McCain will face a challenge from radio host and former Congressman, JD Hayworth, the sort of person classified as a conservative in the Lewis Carroll world of post-Bush political nomenclature, and thus the sort that appeals to what, in historical terms, is now the incomprehensible Republican base.

If he loses, then what will McCain do? His extremely rich wife could easily fund an Independent run, after the manner of his friend and preferred running mate, Joe Lieberman. Ditat Deus?

But that still leaves the Democratic third or so in Arizona. And those Independents, probably a good number, with serious reservations about the war agenda. A morally and socially conservative economic populist and foreign policy realist, this is your moment. Ditat Deus. If you let Him.