ALL ALONG THE CONSERVATIVE FIREWALL:

McCain trains eyes on early Palmetto push: Senator enjoys GOP support that trounced him in Bush campaigns (LEE BANDY, 1/03/07, McClatchy Newspapers)

U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona is methodically building a 2008 presidential campaign machine in South Carolina that includes a cast of top-drawer Republican officials who supported President Bush six years ago. [...]

If Bush had lost South Carolina, that would have ended his campaign, political observers said.

Romney is said to be the greatest threat to McCain this time around.

McCain, taking nothing for granted, has been reaching out to Christian conservatives who helped sink his 2000 bid.

Although McCain holds a comfortable lead over his nearest rival, he is leaving nothing to chance.

The Arizona senator still faces a lingering mistrust among some rank-and-file Republicans who voted for Bush.

McCain's trump card is Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, perhaps the most popular politician in South Carolina.

No one has ever won the party nomination without carrying South Carolina, the first-in-the-South primary.

This time around Mr. McCain is the conservative candidate and SC is the rock upon which he'll break a liberal challenger like Rudy Giuliani.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 3, 2007 9:47 AM