On the signature issue of social conservatism -- abortion -- McCain's lifetime record speaks for itself. He sponsored the ban on federal funding of abortion in 1987. He has consistently supported parental notification for minors seeking abortions. He also opposed partial-birth abortion, voting not only to support the ban, but twice to override President Bill Clinton's veto of the legislation when he was in office. The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) gives McCain a 0 percent rating.

And on economic issues, his lifetime record is one of opposing tax increases, favoring tax cuts and importantly, skewering even his fellow Republicans when they engaged in pork-barrel spending.

The last thing that McCain should do now is to try to remake himself in order to satisfy his most vituperative critics on the right. The man endured five years of imprisonment and torture by the communists in Vietnam. Somehow I don't think hot air from Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter will make him repudiate what he believes in now.

And if it did, McCain would lose his strongest advantage -- namely a reputation as someone with true convictions. You don't have to agree with him on every issue. But at least you know he is not willing to say anything just to get elected. In this era of poll-driven politics, it's refreshing to be able to rely on a candidate's word.

Conservatives could stay home in November -- and some notable conservatives are threatening to do just that. If so, they will hand the election to the Democrats. But surely most conservatives understand that their principles and values will advance a lot further under a President McCain than a President Clinton or Obama.

There's a lot of time between now and Election Day for anti-McCain conservatives to come to their senses. But, the sooner, the better.