Bush Makes Wise Move to Put McCain on N.Y. Ballot

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John McCain's insurgency may be catching fire with the South Carolina GOP rank and file, but the Republican leadership nationwide is more determined than ever to stop him from spoiling the Bush coronation — and they intend to fight smart. New York governor George Pataki announced Thursday that the state party would drop its efforts to keep McCain off the ballot in a number of congressional districts, after the Bush camp had reconsidered the wisdom of a tactic that's been grist to the Arizona senator's anti-establishment mill. The solidly pro-Bush party establishment had been locked in a legal battle with the McCain camp after using the state's arcane primary rules to shut out the challenger.

McCain's thumping victory in New Hampshire has reined in much of Governor Bush's lead in South Carolina, with polls showing them running neck-and-neck. And it's predictably drawn a huge infusion of cash to his campaign, but its source underlines the sheen of populist crusade his campaign is beginning to assume: The McCain campaign reported Thursday receiving $810,000 since Monday via its web site, carrying it to an online fund-raising total of $2.2 million. And almost half of that has come from first-time political donors. Of course, that's small change compared with the gilt-edged Bush war chest, which together with the Texas governor's overwhelming support from the Republican establishment may mean McCain's quest remains an impossible dream. Still, Don Quixote has an army now.