But McCain has at least one serious political drawback — and it is not the “temperament issue.” I have yet to hear a serious argument for the proposition that a short fuse should be disqualifying for high office. The peaceful are not always polite — theologian Stanley Hauerwas says, “I’m a pacifist because I’m a violent son of a bitch” — any more than the tightly coiled are always warlike.

But those who know McCain report a general lack of interest in domestic policy compared with his engagement in foreign affairs. “It’s sometimes unfairly argued that Bush is intellectually uncurious,” says one former member of Congress, “but on domestic issues that is really true of McCain.”

McCain’s foresight on Iraq has carried him far. But eventually he will need to engage Democrats on issues from health care to education to poverty. And being right on the war will not be enough.