Return of the Mac (to the News Cycle)

The healthcare debate is still gruesome — with Republicans telling seniors that under the Democrats’ plan the government will come to their door to ask them to agree to die young, and liberals threatening to torpedo ANY health insurance reform if the public option isn’t strong enough to be opposed by the conservative, moderate and centrists members of their party. It could really make you sick.

So let’s talk about Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) — after all, it’s been a while. Though he has worked hard to stay out of the news, McCain is about to make some, when he announces his decision on the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Notice this week that after kicking her around at the hearings, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) couldn’t say enough nice things about Sotomayor before he voted for her in committee.

Graham said he was supporting Sotomayor because she wasn’t just qualified, but competent and of good character. While he said he was liberal, he said he isn’t out of the mainstream. And he said her record doesn’t show the kind of “activism we all dread.” He finished by saying, “America has changed for the better with her selection.”

For McCain, who faces a primary challenge from the right in his reelection bid, the choice is between alienating conservatives he needs to win the primary election and alienating Hispanics he needs to win the general election. Arizona is home to an Hispanic population of 30 percent, twice the national average. The county that includes Phoenix has one of the nation’s fastest-growing Hispanic populations.

McCain has voted to support justices to the Supreme Court nominated by the other party — like Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter. But he also voted against Sotomayor in 1998 when she was confirmed for the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.

How McCain chooses is anyone’s guess — but of his choices, we can guess he would like to choose neither or both.

WILL OBAMA REACT TO THE BAD POLLS & CHANGE STRATEGY? Ask A.B. returns Monday, Aug. 3. Please join my weekly video Q&A by sending your questions and comments to askab@digital-release.digital-release.thehill.com. Thank you.