ABOVE IT ALL:

McCain ‘Too Busy’ to Answer Romney’s Jabs (Elisabeth Bumiller, 1/13/08, NY Times: The Caucus)

Senator John McCain drew large crowds in three appearances in Michigan on Sunday, when he rebuffed attempts to be drawn into a tit-for-tat political war of words with Mitt Romney.

“I’m not in the business of comparing myself to Governor Romney,” Mr. McCain insisted to reporters on his campaign bus, the “Straight Talk Express.”

“I don’t pay attention to the positions of other candidates, except during the debates. I’m too busy focusing on my 16, 18-hour days and trying to get the support of the voters. I’m not going out and saying, ‘Oh, what does Duncan Hunter feel about this issue?’ I’m not going to do that. Life’s too short.’”

At this point, Mr. McCain's main concern is his Cabinet.

MORE:
McCain Moves Into Lead; Obama Gains on Clinton: Giuliani Falls to 4th in National Poll (Dan Balz and Jon Cohen, 1/14/08, Washington Post)

The big gains by McCain (Ariz.), which come after his victory in the New Hampshire primary, mark the first time he has topped the Republican field in a Post-ABC News national survey. His rise mirrors a dramatic tumble for former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, who led most national polls throughout 2007.

Giuliani, who finished well back in both Iowa and New Hampshire, ranks fourth in the new poll at 15 percent. McCain, meanwhile, has more than double the support he had a month ago and now stands at 28 percent among likely GOP voters. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who scored a big victory in the Iowa caucuses, and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, the runner-up in both early contests, sit just above Giuliani, at 20 and 19 percent, respectively. [...]

By a 2 to 1 margin over Giuliani, McCain is seen as the candidate with the best experience to be president. He also tops the field on electability and leadership for the first time.

Voters' long search for a GOP standard-bearer appears somewhat clearer than it was a month ago. Twenty-seven percent said McCain best reflects core Republican values, a nine-point increase from a month ago, putting him slightly ahead of a pack that still has five GOP candidates scoring in the double digits on this measure.

Conservatives remain split in their choice of candidate, with 25 percent supporting McCain, 23 percent Huckabee, 17 percent Romney and 16 percent Giuliani. McCain, never the darling of the right, has a wide lead among moderates and liberals. Three in 10 white evangelical Protestants support Huckabee, but 25 percent now back McCain, up from 12 percent over the past month.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 13, 2008 9:19 PM