McCain and His Evangelical Problem

Two stories in the media today concerning John McCain and his troubles with evangelical voters. I link, you decide:

Evangelicals Are Still Wary Despite McCain’s Outreach

McCain's Evangelical Problem

I saw another story yesterday that suggested that McCain had refused to meet with the ailing Billy Graham. I think that story was overblown and reflected more of an agenda on the part of the website than a problem between Graham and McCain.

McCain's history of denunciations of evangelicals (in 2000) has left a sour taste in the mouths of evangelical voters, and certainly McCain hasn't said or done anything to give evangelicals any reason to vote for him. Evangelicals (and other thinking voters) are not impressed with "vote for me because I'm not him" type of arguments.

None of this will matter to McCain who really isn't trying to appeal to evangelicals. He's more interested in getting the votes of independents and disaffected Clinton Dems. If things start getting desperate in the Fall he might rethink his strategy, but by that time it will be too late.

UPDATE: More on the Bill Graham/John McCain story:

McCain camp: We're not dissing Billy Graham