If you think all politicians don't look at polls, you are sadly misinformed. Take a wild guess why Dems and Repubs alike hire firms for focus groups and polls - they find out what is important to the people and implement the info into their platform. Right now, the major issues are economy, war, health care. McCain will be bashed on all 3 aspects, even war, because his policy is equal to GW's losing policy. Cheney said it in 91 and 94 - that going into iraq is insane - and sure enough, GW does it. It has cost your party the House, Senate and White House this year - but surely in 10-15 years, the people will be angry at the dems and put the repubs back in.