Main Reasons
Conservatives Oppose McCain

While Republican John McCain is urging his conservative critics to rally around his presidential campaign, there is a lot of water under that bridge.

Here are the top 10 reasons some conservatives dislike the Arizona senator:

1. Campaign finance reform. McCain tried to limit the role of money in politics with measures that, critics say, stomp on the constitutional right to free speech.

2. Immigration. McCain has been a vocal supporter of a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, although he now says he understands the border between the United States and Mexico must be sealed first.

3. Tax cuts. McCain twice voted against President Bush's tax cuts, saying in 2001 that they helped the wealthy at the expense of the middle class and in 2003 that there should be no tax relief until the cost of the Iraq war is known. But he now wants to extend the tax cuts.

4. Gay Marriage. McCain refuses to support a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. He believes the matter should be left up to the states.

5. Stem cell research. McCain would relax restrictions on federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research, which critics consider tantamount to abortion.

6. Global warming. McCain is among the loudest voices in Congress for aggressive action against global warming and a frequent critic of the Bush administration on the issue.

7. ''Gang of 14'' member. McCain is one of seven Republicans who joined seven Democrats to avert a Senate showdown over whether filibusters could be used against Bush judicial nominees.

8. Kerry VP candidate. McCain was approached by the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, Massachusetts senator John Kerry, about being his running mate. McCain talked with Kerry but rejected the offer.

9. Works with Democrats. See all of the above.

10. Belligerence. McCain can be acerbic toward his critics, such as when he labeled televangelists Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson ''agents of intolerance.'' He reconciled with Falwell in 2006. Conservative James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said in a statement on the morning of the Super Tuesday primaries that he would not vote for McCain, citing among other things his ''legendary temper'' and that he ''often uses foul and obscene language.'' (Libby Quaid, AP)