Okay, maybe that’s a bit extreme. Maybe.

There’s no escaping that George W. Bush has abysmal job performance numbers and an uneasy relationship (at best) with John and Cindy McCain.

With 1,226 delegates under his belt - more than enough for the nomination - John McCain is no longer the GOP nominee-in-waiting, but the nominee.

Receiving the endorsement of a sitting president is a big deal, but given the history and the current commander-in-chief’s plummeting popularity, we’re sure today’s formal announcement at the White House was a bit awkward for all…

Cindy McCain: Embraced by a man with 32.2 percent approval rating!

Herein lies the problem for John McCain: While conservatives remain uneasy about his candidacy, and those conservatives (apparently) still revere George W., just 24 percent of the U.S. feels the country is headed in the right direction.

How can the Maverick appeal to independents while appearing with George W. Bush and giving a speech last night that was, as Democratic strategist Paul Belaga put it, “an eloquent but not very energetic defense of the status quo.”

It’s a fine line. John McCain has no choice but to walk it, which leaves us confident about the chances for either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.

He knows it, too. When he starts looking at potential Vice Presidential candidates, as he says he will soon, expect McCain to steer clear of camp W.