Will John McCain Blow Some Dems' Cover?

John McCain may be about to find out that on Capitol Hill, honesty isnt always the best policy. The maverick GOPer needs eight more Republican senators to get his campaign-finance reform bill past Mitch McConnells filibuster and into legislative heaven. But his plan to win them could have some Democrats turning their backs on the whole deal. McCain and Democratic partner Russ Feingold said Wednesday that they were going to make things real simple for the Senate when their bill comes up for a vote next month: Theyll ask for a soft-money ban, nothing else, and take away wavering GOPers excuses for holding out — notably by dropping their demand for regulation of advertisements by outside groups. "The idea is that it will make this a simple issue," says TIME congressional correspondent James Carney. "If any Republicans are feeling any political pressure at all, this will maximize it, because there wont be any easy outs."

But he may find that — surprise! — Democrats are just as fond of easy outs as the next party. "Dont forget that the Democrats had the House, the Senate and the White House in 1993, and you didnt hear much about reform then," Carney says. "Its become a much bigger issue since the 94, 96 and 98 campaigns, but there are still some Democrats whore happy to vote for reform as long as its doomed to fail." (Kind of like the moderate Republicans who voted for that $792 billion tax cut that arrived DOA at the White House yesterday.) McCain has made a career — and the beginnings of a decent presidential run - by being the kind of guy who exposes hypocrisy on the Hill. He may find more of it this time than hes bargaining for.