Phil is absolutely right that McCain should keep his Senate seat. To do otherwise would be a dereliction of duty. His constituents elected him to serve a full term. His party supported him expecting that he would serve a full term, and especially expecting that he would not resign and let his replacement be appointed by a Democratic governor. This new fad of elected officials leaving office mid-term, not because of severe health problems or serious family issues but just because other opportunities came along, is a terrible fad made use of by people who do not understand the concept of duty. Of course it is okay to leave an open seat by virtue of being elected to higher office… but to leave a seat mid-term just to run for higher office is as venal as to leave it mid-term in order to cash in and get rich — again, especially if the replacement will be of another party. McCain’s vote in the Senate is of crucial importance, and to fail to exercise it on behalf of the people who elected him would be a betrayal of duty.
Plus, Phil makes the great political point that it would reinforce the similarities between McCain and Bob Dole, which is not at all a good thing.
If McCain leaves his seat, it will be a move both brazen and craven. Let’s hope he is a better man than that.
