If the McCain that is running this time around was the same McCain who ran last time, I would be less concerned that he might win.
Old McCain was a self-styled maverick. Some people in his own party did not want him as the nominee, because he was an independent thinker. That McCain seems to have disappeared.
For example, in 1999 McCain said this about abortion: “I’d love to see a point where [Roe v. Wade] is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force x number of women to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations.”
Today, not only does his stated position say that Roe v. Wade should be overturned, McCain favors no exceptions: not for rape, incest or even to save the life of the mother.
In the past, McCain was known for his advocacy of campaign finance reform (the McCain-Feingold Act of 2002). Like so many other issues, McCain has taken a sharp right turn in recent years. Here is a Washington Post story explaining it (excerpt follows):
“Over the past year, McCain’s name has been notably absent from legislation that would bring voluntary public financing to congressional elections, as well as from the Presidential Funding Act—an effort to modernize the current presidential public financing system. McCain had co-sponsored a similar bill in 2003, but this year his former campaign finance reform partner, Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wisc.) is being joined by a different Republican, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).”
I could go on and on about his position changes, but have to go pick up the spouse.