rom the ashes of their failed campaigns, John McCain and Bill Bradley touted what they said were the accomplishments of their insurgent candidacies.
McCain said he was proud that his ''crusade'' to end the stranglehold of special interests on Washington policy makers had attracted new voters. Bradley claimed credit for putting access to health care on this year's political agenda. His supporters, Bradley said, should celebrate their success in forcing ''the beginning of a new politics in our country.''
But it is fair to ask what they have to celebrate. Bradley hasn't won a single contest anywhere, and McCain was drubbed badly everywhere except New England on Tuesday. Now, at an unconscionably early date on the calendar, the nominating process is essentially over. Opponents could even argue, as some have, that the causes embraced by McCain and Bradley were rejected by the voters.
The truth is that several of these issues, especially campaign finance reform and health care access, are important to a significant number of voters - most of whom now have no strong allegiance to either Bush or Gore.
They are also important to the nation as a whole. Many citizens feel government is controlled not by the people but by special interests. And the number of Americans with no health insurance - 44 million and climbing - is a national disgrace.
Gore needs to do much more to establish credibility behind his protestations of support for campaign finance reform, and Bush needs to realize that the free-for-all system he espouses leaves many people out.
Similarly, Gore's proposal to give more health coverage to children is far less than is needed, while Bush's rhetoric and record on this issue are dismal.
Bush and Gore have succeeded thus far by winning overwhelming support from their party regulars. Now, facing an interminable eight-month general election campaign, both should be seeking new backers by speaking to major issues such as these. If they fail, they will squander potential support and bore the country, driving voter participation to an all-time low.
