According to the Washington Post (registration required) John McCain is lobbying to change the primary nomination rules in California to allow "independants" to vote in the Republican Primary. While this is interesting on a strategy level, it is also interesting for what it says about McCain. Captain's Quarters has some good commentary on the topic...

"McCain would appear to be conceding that conservatives would more likely back Romney at this point in time. Even there, McCain would be playing a dangerous game by forcing an open primary, because Giuliani would attract more of the moderates and centrists, especially in California. The Republicans in California, especially the conservatives, would resent this effort, precisely because it would dilute what little influence conservatives retain in the state."

"It's hard to see where McCain wins anything with this effort. If he wants to champion conservatism, one would expect him to keep or even strengthen its influence in the primaries. Then again, one would expect McCain to have met with conservatives at CPAC, too. The campaign seems a bit rudderless at the moment."

For more discussion of the CA primary in the upcoming election click here.