What aspects of McCain's track record or platform make him unpopular with many Republicans?

1. Support for Kennedy's road to amnesty

2. Did not support Bush's tax cut

3. Was instrumental in starting that lousy Gang of 14: which leads me to believe he wouldn't nominate conservative judges, as the reason for being in this gang was to pick "middle of the road" judges. i.e. anybody who isn't conservative even if it means nominating a liberal.

4. McCain-Feingold bill, which hurt the republicans considerably more than the democrats, by basically taking away a groups right to free speech during a campaign.

5. His involvement in the savings and loan scandals of the eighties.

6. His friendship with Hillary Clinton.

7. His consideration at running as John Kerry's vice president.

How about the fact that he talked about leaving the Republican party twice? Once in 2001 (after losing to President Bush), and again in 2004 to help John Kerry's campaign (again, against President Bush).

You may call it hatred against Bush, but if that were all it was, then he should have challenged Bush for the nomination in 2004. Who knows? This might have be McCain's reelection campaign. But one thing I do know is that, however he entered the GOP, he'll leave it as a Democrat at heart.

[edit] His 83% voting record in the Senate is over the course of the last 24 years, and is mostly the result of being pro-life and against gay marriage. No one doubts that he's socially conservative.

But on other issues, especially in the last dozen or so years, he has definitely shifted left. He's famous for compromising in the Senate, from the Gang of Fourteen to the number of bills in recent years co-authored with prominent Democrats. It's a fine thing to be able to work "across the aisle", but let's call a spade a spade, huh? He's become more liberal over the years.

McCain Feingold... free speech limitations

McCain Kennedy.. amnesty for illegals

"Gang of 14"....

Blocking tax cuts...

His global warming crap...

He's always more interested in kissing up to the camera and being "collegial" with his Senate buddies than taking a principled stand

The two positions that the media keeps harping about are the so-called amnesty bill and bush's tax cuts. He has since changed his position on at least one of these topics.

It is surprising, however, that despite these indiscretions, McCain has a better than 85% conservative voting record in the Senate.

-Sponsored 2006 bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S., work and apply to become legal residents after learning English, paying fines and back taxes and clearing a background check. Now says he would secure the border first. Supports border fence.

-Would consider "almost anything" as part of a compromise to save Social Security, yet rules out higher payroll taxes "for now."

-Wants to relax restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research

-Twice opposed Bush's tax cuts, at first because he said they were tilted to the wealthiest and again because of the unknown costs of Iraq war. (Now says those tax cuts, expiring in 2010, should be permanent. Proposes cutting corporate tax rate to 25 percent.)

Im not a NcCain supporter but do respect him.......some of these points people make only tell part of the story....McCain did oppose the tax cuts, he opposed them because they didnt include spending cuts, turns out 9 trillion later....he was right

Pro Amnesty, Anti- Tax cutter, Pro- Global Warming, Unwilling to work with his own party at all, the fact that he courted the Democratic Party in 2001 to possibly switch his registration.

McCain-Kennedy - the infamous Amnesty Bill.

For spending money on global warming - lots of it

For amnesty - he says he was wrong and has changed his mind - we'll see

For campaign reform - no soft money. some people say it goes against our 1st amdendment rights

Voted against tax cuts twice. He says he won't repeal them - we'll see.

Not in favor of a constitutional amendment on marriage.

Practically everything, but he's the only one who has a chance to win against the Dems.