The ‘shrieking conservatives’ i refer to represent the extreme right-wing of the Republican party not the overwhelming majority of moderate Republicans or moderate Republican voters. So it’s not a case of McCain winning without Conservative votes, it’s him being able to ignore the fundamentalist minority in his own party.

Let’s face it, the influence of these blowhards has always been overestimated by the media. Let Ann Coulter insist she’ll vote for Clinton because she despises McCain. Let the right-wing shock jocks rage at McCain for ‘selling out’ (code for how dare he be principled, independent minded & pragmatic instead of a brainless idealogue)!

In fact I rather hope McCain’s choice of VP turns out to be Joe Lieberman. It would be rather amusing to watch the far left & far right of each party explode with rage at such a choice. For the centrist majority, who wish to see an end to such intense partisanship between the parties, I suspect such a choice would be welcome & further evidence of McCain’s integrity.

Rob, the only way McCain wins without conservatives is if Obama/Hillary supporters vote for him after their guy/gal gets defeated in the primary. Otherwise, McCain can’t win without the “shrieking conservatives” and he knows that too.

That shrieking faction is irrelevant (which may be the point McCain’s ad was making). They have no power, they never had any power. Let the Limbaugh’s & Coulter’s rant & rave about how they’d vote for anybody but McCain. Who the hell cares? They’re a minority voice. It doesn’t matter one whit whether McCain has their endorsement or not. Elections are won & lost by appealing to the centre & McCain knows this.