To the Right, To the Right: John McCain Better Start Praying

If he wants to beat Barack Obama in November (and we're assuming he does), John McCain must pull off a tricky trick: first he needs to reassure hardcore evangelicals that he's on their side, and then he needs to persuade independent moderates that he's on their side.

So far uber-conservatives have been wary about McCain, in part because he hasn't made his faith a central part of his campaign the way George W. Bush did.

Now some of them are saying they won't be able to support him until they know who he's picking for vice president, and it looks like McCain is going to have to start serving his speeches with a side of old time religion…

Unlike Mr. Bush, Mr. McCain is decidedly reticent about religion on the stump. Mr. McCain grew up Episcopalian and shifted to a Baptist church after marrying his second wife, Cindy, but has not been baptized into the denomination. When asked about his personal faith at town hall forums, he often relates a familiar story.

When Mr. McCain was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, a guard who had once loosened his bonds while he was being tortured sidled up to him on Christmas Day and drew a cross on the dirt in front of them. But some evangelical leaders say the account sheds more light on the guard's faith than on Mr. McCain's.

Well, I think we just solved the running mate question.