Nancy Reagan to Endorse McCain

Tonight I received an email asking about the newsworthiness of the announcement that former first lady Nancy Reagan was endorsing John McCain for President. My friend had two concerns. First, why bother endorsing someone who already has the nomination locked up. Secondly, she wondered if people even listen to Nancy Reagan anymore.

Normally, it would be a little late in the game to bother with an endorsement of a candidate who has more delegates than the minimum needed to secure the nomination. However, I believe this endorsement was requested by the McCain campaign in order to minimize the damage of a recent New York Times article that talked about rumors that McCain seriously considered switching party allegiances twice in the last several years. Because of his occasional actions that irritate the more conservative Republicans, the Times article was especially problematic. I'm certain this endorsement is intended to reassure conservatives by tying the nominee to the late president who is revered both for ending the Cold War and for restoring Republican pride after the Watergate scandal.

As to the second question, I don't know if anyone listens to Nancy and assumes they are hearing a close facsimile of Ronald Reagan's views. Her only significant political action in recent years has been in support of government funding of embryonic stem cell research which I think is not something President Reagan would have supported. Having said all that, I think she does speak for the late president in endorsing McCain. Sen. McCain supported and advanced the Reagan agenda in the 1980's and Reagan was reportedly very fond of McCain. I suppose we will find out whether anyone listens to her by examining polling data in the days following the announcement.