McCain, back in Senate, plays against hype

He built his reputation and ran for president as someone who would buck the GOP in favor of bipartisan cooperation. Now he's rallying opposition to the Democratic stimulus plan.

By Janet Hook
LA Times
February 7, 2009

Reporting from Washington — Mac is back.

But now, Sen. John McCain is cutting a new profile -- one that is far more partisan than when he became so familiar to Americans months ago as the Republican nominee for president.

As a candidate, McCain cast himself as a uniter of the two parties, willing to buck his GOP colleagues and reach across the aisle to build compromises on immigration, campaign finance and other hot-button issues.

"I have that record and the scars to prove it. Sen. Obama does not," he said during the campaign, referring to his bipartisan streak.

But this week, with Barack Obama in the White House and McCain back in Congress, the Arizona senator has played a prominent and uncompromising role in rallying Republican opposition to the Democratic majority and its stimulus plan.

(More here.)