Would a President McCain win in this timeline?

[Del Tachi]

McCain does not seem like a natural 2008 nominee in this scenario.  Opposition parties are often more motivated, which makes them likely to nominate more ideological candidates.  A better midterm for the GOP in 2006 also means there may be more viable candidates.  My bet is McCain would lose the primary to a "conservative" like Romney or Allen.

Assuming McCain is elected and assuming he's thrown into the hellfire of the 2008 GFC, it's interesting to ponder what kind of economic manager he would be as president.  Foreign policy is obviously McCain's preferred wheelhouse, so he either outsources the economic stuff to his cabinet/admin (i.e., folks like Rob Portman, most likely) or completely botches the Federal response and is perceived as ineffective.  Maybe both.  If Democrats have large majorities in Congress, maybe McCain is able to negotiate a "grand bargain" on healthcare, taxes, or spending.