McCain bets on the road less traveled

"The truth is things have changed," said Mark Mellman, a strategist for Sen. John F. Kerry, the Democrats' 2004 nominee. Mellman suggested that a troika of issues -- the unpopular war in Iraq; the botched response to Hurricane Katrina; and the proposed sale of U.S. port operations to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which fell through in a storm of controversy -- has badly eroded GOP credibility on foreign policy and fighting terrorism. After the shock of an attack, Mellman said, "people might begin to say, 'They told us the one thing they were able to do was protect us against terrorism. Now they've failed even that.' "

Black may have further undercut McCain's advantage, Dowd suggested, by making such a crass political observation -- though all Black did was say publicly what many discuss in private. "Even though John McCain comes from a good place in his heart, everything he now says about terrorism will be viewed through a cynical filter," Dowd said.

McCain's greatest political strength has always been his reputation as someone willing to go his own way when principle demands. He started running for president in 2007 as a conventional candidate, and failed miserably. He reverted to a more freewheeling form and, against a weak field, rallied to win the GOP nomination.

For good or ill, McCain is clearly determined to wage a different sort of general-election campaign, even if it leads him far from the well-trod path or away from the issues voters say they care most about. It may be unconventional. But given voters' contempt for Washington, the Republican Party and the incumbent president, it might be McCain's best chance of winning.

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mark.barabak@latimes.com

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Times staff writer Maeve Reston contributed to this report.