Can John McCain Afford to Cut Back?

As of this morning, John McCain has nailed down the Republican nomination. He’s got the delegates to just walk in and make his speech when the convention rolls around. You could argue that McCain might as well just shut down until the convention — why spend money contesting primaries when he’s already won?

In other election years, McCain might have been comfortable doing just that: not necessarily shutting down, but turning his attention to the long view. He could have focused on getting voters for November in those states yet to hold their primaries. I don’t think he can afford to scale down on any level, though. Mike Huckabee has made a decision to stay in a race he can’t win and that means McCain has to remain involved in a race he can’t lose. It is worth McCain’s time to keep hammering away on Huckabee’s margin just so that he has a chance of getting those Republican votes in the general election.

President Bush endorsed McCain this morning, and that will help him get a better hold on some of those Republican voters who still feel the McCain doesn’t share their values. But that doesn’t look like it will be enough. McCain still has plenty of ground to cover in ensuring he picks up outlying Republican votes in the fall. That means plenty more spending during the primaries, and just as much campaigning.