The other day, I argued that a one-term pledge would increase McCain’s chances of 1) winning the GOP nomination, 2) winning the general election, and 3) having a successful presidency. The standard argument against point 3 is that anyone who took the pledge would be an instant lame duck. That argument is now being made by McCain himself.

I don’t think being a lame duck should be a major worry of McCain’s right now, since it is hard to see how he becomes a duck in the first place.

On the bright side, I don’t think his comment rules out the possibility that he will change his mind about this point and take the pledge. But time is running short.

P.S. NR is not a “neoconservative” magazine, although it is open to neocons and reflects their influence.