Is John Mccain Democrats' Worst Nightmare?

Do Democrats worry more about facing John McCain or Mitt Romney?

Democrats fear that McCain could wreck their hopes of retaking the White House in November. At a meeting in Washington in November 2006, about 60 senior Democrats, including figures such as Gary Hart, Madeleine Albright and Tom Daschle, as well as younger, rising stars, discussed election strategy.

Towards the end of the day-long, off-the-record session, the question was asked: "What would happen if McCain was the Republican candidate?" The resounding answer from several of the participants was: "We're dead meat."

Steve Clemons, head of the liberal think tank New America Foundation, who was among those present, said yesterday: "I think McCain will be a real nightmare for the Democrats."

Why are the Democrats so worried about McCain?

He has an easy charm and is the most moderate of the Republican field remaining. That makes him appealing to independents who could make the difference at the general election.

Part of that appeal is because, throughout his long career as a senator, he has often favored a bipartisan approach to politics and flouted Republican party orthodoxy. Last year, for instance, he worked with Democratic senator Ted Kennedy on immigration reform, a bill that was eventually killed off by Republican grassroots hostility.

There is also a lot of affection for him in the US where he is regarded as a super-patriot for the courage he demonstrated during five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

He is experienced in foreign affairs and security but not economic affairs. Isn't that a big weakness in a year in which the US could tilt into recession?

A worrying statistic for the Democrats from the exit polls in the Florida primary on Tuesday: while voters said that the economy was by far the top issue, it was not the main influence on their choice of candidates. They overwhelming said their decisions had been made on the basis of personality, and McCain won that.

Who will McCain choose as a running mate?

Too soon to say but a good bet would be Mike Huckabee, the Baptist pastor and former governor of Arkansas. He would appeal to the Republican core suspicious of McCain as too liberal and could help deliver the South. That would be a formidable duo.

Would Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama fare better against McCain?

Difficult to say. Obama may be able to reach out to the independents in a way that Clinton cannot. He could portray himself as an opponent of the Iraq war, in contrast with McCain, a position that is harder for Clinton to adopt. He also has the advantage of age, his youth contrasting with McCain, who would be 72 on becoming president.

Clinton has an impressive machine behind her, which would be able to fight McCain more effectively. She would also play her experience card against him. Obama is weaker on both these fronts - but Clinton is a more divisive figure.