The Right vs McCain

He keeps dodging the base confabs and the base returns the love:

"I would ask McCain, he said he doesn't have anything in common with us. He doesn't believe in low taxes? He doesn't believe in limited government? He doesn't believe in free trade? ... I think he was afraid of getting booed. I’ve seen some political pundits say that, that it was smart for McCain not to show up, because he risked getting booed."

I cannot recall a senior Republican leader, who really should be the front-runner, being hated this much by the base. They were nicer to Dole. They were even nicer to Bush Sr. So why? I know there are legitimate differences of opinion on some matters - but less so than with Giuliani, for example. My own sense is that the base fears that McCain could lead the GOP away from the current Rove-Bush coalition. The hate correlates with the threat.