Hey, it looks like conservatives are hating on their candidate less so these days…

Partly thanks to an increasingly likable image, the Republican presidential candidate has pulled even with the two Democrats still brawling for their party's nomination, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo news poll released Thursday.

Just five months ago — before either party had winnowed its field — the survey showed people preferred sending an unnamed Democrat over a Republican to the White House by 13 percentage points.

Of those who have moved toward McCain, about two-thirds voted for President Bush in 2004 but are now unhappy with him, including many independents who lean Republican.

Imagine that. Republicans supporting the Republican candidate. The Grand Old Party must be feeling pretty grand these days.

But what about the other third of that three-thirds?

The remaining one-third usually support Democrats but like McCain anyway.

Hmmmmmm… What to make of this? Could it be that people are just really into his groundbreaking, refreshing ideas of how America should stay just the way it was twelve years ago?

Probably that, but there's more…

The survey suggests that those switching to McCain are largely attuned to his personal qualities and McCain may be benefiting as the two Democrats snipe at each other during their prolonged nomination fight.

Well, I don't think any of us saw this one coming.