John McCain endorses Romney: A closer look

Sen. John McCain of Arizona endorsed Mitt Romney for President in New Hampshire. McCain has a history with at least 5 of the current presidential candidates. Newt Gingrich remained neutral during the 2008 campaign, but he had been critical of John McCain on immigration and campaign finance reform. In fact, in September 2007, Gingrich blamed Campaign Finance laws for his decision not to run for President in 2008. During the Youtube/CNN debate in November 2007, John McCain and Ron Paul had an exchange on foreign policy. Jon Huntsman was one of John McCain's earliest supporters during the 2008 campaign. Mitt Romney and John McCain were bitter rivals during the 2008 primary. It would see as if McCain's relationship with Mitt Romney is like his relationship with George W. Bush; in 2000, McCain was Bush's main rival for the GOP nomination. Bush would attack McCain on tax cuts and campaign finance law, McCain attacked Bush as dishonest and compared him to Bill Clinton. Two months after ending his 2000 campaign, McCain endorsed Bush. However, McCain spent much of 2001 opposing President Bush's proposed tax cuts. However, following 9/11, McCain became a defender of the Bush administration, working with them on key issues and becoming a key ally of President Bush. In fact, McCain become a top surrogate for Bush's re-election bid in 2004, and Bush endorsed McCain the day after he won the republican presidential nomination in 2008. Why go into all of this? We see a pattern, except this time with McCain on top. After ending his own bid for President in 2008, Mitt Romney endorsed McCain, was a top surrogate, and was on the short-list with Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty to be his running-mate. In 2010, Romney lent his support to McCain's re-election efforts in Arizona. Now, McCain endorses Romney following a win in the closest Iowa caucus in history. McCain's endorsement will help Romney with moderates and independents, but not conservatives. Once considered a "maverick," John McCain remains a moderate. What has changed though, is McCain was considered a Washington insider challenging Washington, but now he is considered a Washington insider part of the establishment. Furthermore, one has to wonder why McCain endorsed Romney despite the fact that Romney viciously attacked him in 2008 much like he is now doing to Newt Gingrich. Former Ambassador Jon Huntsman must be angry with McCain, as he became one of McCain's earliest backers in 2008 and as he tries to make a comeback in New Hampshire, McCain chooses to endorse his formal rival over a long time ally. Either McCain does not care about friendship, he simply realizes Huntsman does not have a chance, or he dislike Huntsman's left-wing foreign policy. Personally, my guess is the last two options, though certainly a good friend would not ignore Huntsman. In the long run, John McCain's endorsement helps Romney with his base, but it does not help Romney expand his base. Therefore, Romney needs to reach out to conservatives; though Governor Chris Christie's endorsement of Romney helped him, Romney still has work to do. As for McCain, the Arizona Senator is a popular guy in New Hampshire, so I'm sure he will help Romney there.