'Mac Is Back' in Granite State

John McCain is back in New Hampshire, dispensing straight talk and cajoling his press corps “base” like it was still 2000. But this time he’s not playing Maverick—he just wants to be the least objectionable candidate, Politico reports. “People may not agree with every stand I take,” McCain says, “but they know I will make decisions based on principles, not polls.”

McCain admits he looks at the polls though, and today they say he’s leading Romney comfortably, which looked impossible even 6 weeks ago. “It’s the greatest comeback in political history if he wins by one vote!” says one adviser. McCain’s selling himself on experience, which isn’t working for Hillary against Obama, but McCain’s not running against Obama—yet. (More John McCain stories.)