Running in reverse: from the middle to the right

In short, Mr. Hagee is a false prophet and certifiable kook. Yet he remains a mainstay in national Republican politics. Attendees at his annual conference in Washington last year included former congressional heavyweights such as former Republican House leaders Tom DeLay and Newt Gingrich, and the increasingly reactionary Connecticut "independent Democrat," Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman.

So when Mr. McCain said he "was pleased to have the endorsement" of Mr. Hagee, the Republican candidate stirred up a bee's nest of political problems. Catholic League President Bill Donohue started buzzing immediately.

"There are plenty of staunch evangelical leaders who are pro-Israel but are not anti-Catholic," said Mr. Donohue, a self-described conservative who condemned George W. Bush in 2000 for giving a speech at anti-Catholic Bob Jones University, in a news release. "John Hagee is not one of them. Indeed, for the past few decades, he has waged an unrelenting war against the Catholic Church."

Facing potential electoral fallout from pivotal Catholic voters, Mr. McCain quickly changed his tune, saying late last week that he repudiates "any comments that are made, including Pastor Hagee's, if they are anti-Catholic or offensive to Catholics."

The political-religious box in which Mr. McCain finds himself provides little room for maneuvering: He needs the support of the millions of highly motivated religious conservative voters but has risked alienating Catholic voters who will be critical in the general election. His rightward tack further risks turning off the many Hispanics and independents who admire him.

Such is the fate of a man running for the White House in reverse. And you can bet the Hagee-Donohue flap is not the last time between now and November when the Straight Talk Express will start weaving from lane to lane.

Thomas F. Schaller teaches political science at UMBC. His column appears on alternate Wednesdays in The Sun. His e-mail is [e-mail].