In contrast, John McCain is anything but elegant. The man is no orator. But he is John McCain. Through and through, then and now, whether he’s up or down in politics. Who else would go to Detroit to say that the auto industry needs to improve its cars, not just demand more subsidies? Who else would choose Florida to assert that the federal government shouldn’t be subsidizing still more beachfront construction in hurricane-prone areas?

Senator McCain’s political fortunes may vary (and how) but not his principles. He may compromise when he wants to fix a problem instead of just fight it forever, as he’s done on the issue of illegal immigration and when it came to finally getting some judges past a Senate filibuster. But he’s not about to compromise when it comes to winning a war. He understands that in war there is no substitute for victory.

One may disagree with the man on this or that issue, as I did and do, profoundly, when it comes to his campaign finance “reform,” which violates the whole spirit of the First Amendment by restraining freedom of speech. But I’d rather disagree with a Senator McCain, knowing his character, than agree with a Hillary Clinton, because you know any stand she takes is good only till it becomes unpopular. (Where is she on the war these days? It all depends, of course, on how the war is going.)

The most eloquent performance during the Republican debate had to be that of Arkansas’ former governor but still Baptist preacher when he spoke in defense of life, and said there were certain principles one does not violate no matter how popular or unpopular they may be at the time.

While all the other candidates seemed to be angling for Ronald Reagan’s mantle by citing this or that accomplishment of the Gipper’s — a theme sure to appeal to Republican voters in the primary — it was Mike Huckabee who said that Ronald Reagan’s great achievement wasn’t the economic growth he let loose, or the Cold War he ended together with the late and unlamented Soviet Union and the nuclear arms race. No, his greatest achievement was the renewed spirit he brought to America after the depressing Carter Years. It was a fitting peroration after a debate that had had its petty moments.

If John McCain turns out to be the Repubican standard bearer, he’ll need a running mate who’s (a) a social conservative and (b) is a heckuva campaigner. Which is why one can easily envision the GOP’s ticket being announced at St. Paul this September under a huge banner reading: McCAIN-HUCKABEE.