“McCain is strong on national security - which is going to increasingly be the focus in the election because it pertains to the sheer survival of this nation.”
I actually think the OPPOSITE is happening.
Sicne Bush and his surge have turned around Iraq, the MSM has decided to put Iraq to back pages and move on to other topics, and the voters likewise are not going to be as concerned about it as they were in 2004 and 2006. By the time the next President gets in office, Bush and our military will have Iraq and Afghanistan stable enough for the next President to continue to draw down our commitments while meeting security goals an acheiving victory.
History will record that Bush will have ‘won the war’ in Iraq by end of 2008.
We need a President who is good on the GWOT (eg cross Huckabee off the list, and a reason to say NO to Obama or any Democrat), but IMHO it wont be the #1 issue.
Economy will be #1.
Your points are well made.