The enthusiasm gap

Mort Kondracke:

After Super Tuesday, Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) has every right to declare himself the Republican presidential frontrunner, but he has miles to go in getting himself and his party in shape to face his Democratic opponent.

One measure of his task is that more than 14.6 million Democrats went to the polls on Tuesday and only 9 million Republicans -- indicating a vast enthusiasm gap between the parties.

McCain polls reasonably well against both Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), but they have a sagging economy and a massive national desire for change going for them in addition to the energetic desire among Democrats to get the White House back.

...

Republicans may not be enthusiastic about their choices, but they will be enthusiastic about voting against Democrats. That is McCain's best hope of winning. His campaign should be focused on the Democrat negatives and drive down their enthusiasm.