Expect McCain v. Obama This Fall

With eight straight wins behind him, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has officially taken front-runner status in the fight for the Democratic nomination and, if he can seal the deal in the next 16 weeks, will likely face Arizona Sen. John McCain on Nov. 4.

It's an intriguing matchup. Of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, Democrats are saying Obama is the candidate McCain would have the most trouble facing, but I think the converse is true: I think McCain is the candidate Democrats should be worrying about -- for a number of good reasons.

First and foremost, it's going to be very difficult for Obama or Hillary to back up their statements about McCain being another George W. Bush. McCain has differentiated himself from the president by his votes (sometimes against the president), and although Bush has urged Republicans to embrace long-time Senator, they couldn't be more different in their approaches. McCain has not towed the party line, but that's not always a bad thing

Second, and this might be just as important as the first, McCain appeals to independents. One of the reasons conservatives have struck so hard at John McCain is because he has reached across the aisle time and again in an effort to improve America. Most conservatives are less angry at McCain than the right wing commentators and radical radio-personalities want to admit. The wide spectrum of conservatives may not like all of McCain's decisions, but most have trouble arguing with the reasons he made them.

Third, McCain can't be beaten on the war issue. No one knows the mind of the soldier better than McCain. After being shot down over Vietnam in 1967, McCain spent 5 tortuous years in a Hanoi prisoner-of-war camp. He may have earned the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and Purple Heart, but he paid a terrible price for them. Obama, on the other hand, has no military service and will make himself an easy target if he campaigns on the war issue alone.

Fourth, McCain's name recognition alone should propel him to victory if Obama gets the Democratic nod. Democrats have been touting how much higher voter turnout has been for their candidates, but I think they're missing a huge part of the puzzle: in most states independents can't vote. Let's not forget who the independents are: disenfranchised Republicans, mostly. As well as libertarians, constitutionists and reformists.

Finally, there is the darker side America to consider, and this unfortunately includes discrimination. Not because Obama is a black man. Oh, no. In fact, that may help him. The discrimination I'm talking about is xenophobia. I believe the many senior citizens who will cast ballots on Nov. 4 won't care if Obama or McCain is black, white or blue. They will, however, care deeply about pulling the lever for a man whose name is only one letter away from "Osama."

It's wrong, I know. It's unconscionable. I know that, too. I agree. It's disgusting to even think about.

Unfortunately, it's reality in post-9/11 America.

For all the good reasons people have to vote for John McCain, I hope it doesn't come down to the last one.