National: Robert Kerr

[img_assist|nid=2302|title=U.S. Sen. John McCain|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=200|height=268]U.S. Sen. John McCain's balancing act of being a maverick while at the same time appealing to conservative Republicans is not a new dynamic. His independent nature in the Senate and in the presidential race might be the only way a Republican this election year can appeal to swing voters, but in 2004 it was the base that helped President Bush win re-election.