What McCain operatives are going to do is push his 20 year record where they will show how he's been solidly pro-life, strong on the war on terror and tough on wasteful spending. As for the marriage issue, this is the thinking within the campaign. They'll say he's a federalist at heart, that he believes in states to decide the marriage issue. They will point out how he has been principled on this issue and that the framers would want this to be a states only issue anyhow. But, having said that, his campaign will make the case that McCain would support a constitutional marriage amendment if certain conditions were present. For example, this is what McCain said a little more than a year ago.

Still, according to one prominent Evangelical leader (truly a mover and a shaker) that I just heard from, this person tells me:

"Mike is a wonderful guy. I am personally friends with him. Having said that, the nature of the global issues facing the next President are such that a unique skill set is needed. One that includes broad international experience. I am not sure Mike has the experience. I think he is a serios threat to Sam. Much more so than to Mitt."