Will a John McCain GOP Nomination Put California in Play?

Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., takes questions from reporters at a press conference the morning after Super Tuesday primary elections Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008 in Phoenix, Ariz. Boosted by his victories, McCain asked his loudest conservative critics Wednesday to ‘calm down’ and support his Republican presidential candidacy.

With the apparent nomination of John McCain as the GOP Presidential standard bearer how does this affect Republican chances of winning California’s electoral college votes in the November general election?

McCain may put California in play for the GOP for the first time since George H. W. Bush.

A poll of likely California voters by Field Research found that McCain was virtually tied with Clinton in a hypothetical matchup while Obama, thanks largely to his broader appeal, held a seven-point lead over McCain.

Were McCain to win the GOP nomination, therefore, it could put California in play. The Democratic candidate, either Clinton or Obama, would still be favored but could no longer take the state for granted. Without California’s 55 electoral votes, Democratic hopes for recapturing the White House are slender, so at the very least, Democrats would have to devote resources to California.

Now, will these prospects mollify the talk radio RIGHT?

Probably not

But, the number crunchers at the RNC are licking their chops at the prospect of a McCain candidacy.