PORKBUSTERS UPDATE: Earmark Nation:

With all the talk about how Mr. McCain needs to unify his party, lost has been the question of whether some people will let him. Washington Republicans know he’s their best shot at retaining the White House. Yet many remain ambivalent about him — not because they question his conservatism, but out of resentment that he may get in the way of their earmarks.

This has resulted in a behind-the-scenes brawl, as spend-happy Republicans resist efforts by wiser heads to fall in behind Mr. McCain’s anti-earmark message. At best, the spenders risk an embarrassing pummeling by their own nominee that could hurt them in their own re-election campaigns. At worst, they could undercut one of Mr. McCain’s more persuasive messages. . . . Republicans have a choice. They can unite behind the feisty Mr. McCain, and take a position that is true to their small-government principles, popular with the public and a smart political move. Or they can hurt themselves, and possibly their nominee, by sticking with the lard.

The GOP delegation has shown that it would rather stuff its pockets than retain the majority in Congress. It’s quite likely that it would rather stuff its pockets than see the GOP take the Presidency, too.