The more moderate voters see of the real John McCain, the more they distrust him. After all, he claims to be a maverick yet votes with the republican party over 80% of the time. In New Hampshire one voter didn’t let McCain off the hook. Did he respond with reasoned arguments and commend the woman for asking intelligent questions? Take a look:

“I’m not getting anything I really need and my grandchildren are getting saddled with $9 trillion in debt,” said Diamond, a Keene retiree. “Why should I vote Republican?”

Because, McCain replied, Democrats have also voted to increase federal spending.

“Maybe,” the Arizona Republican suggested, “you should vote for the vegetarians.”

Diamond was not amused by McCain’s sarcasm. “Republicans are in charge of three Houses,” she snapped back. “You have no excuse.”

McCain shook his head. “Yes, ma’am,” he said, peering at the 500 people gathered at the town meeting. “I knew we should have cut this thing off.”

If I spoke to my grandmother that way, I would get a swift slap to the face. I don’t think belittling seniors is a winning strategy.

This episode, however trivial to the overall race, illustrates a key weakness that could sink Senator McCain’s bid for the presidency in 2008. He buys into his own maverick myth just enough to be surprised when someone else challenges it. His voting record is so conservative that Ms. Diamond will not be the last person to call him on it. Senator McCain should be very careful. If he handles future challenges with the same negative comments the press will pick back up the anger meme from 2000.