Conservatives Want to Stop McCain

Movement conservatives are spooked at the possibility of the McCain candidacy -- a campaign that can draw many independent and casual Republican voters lured by the myth of McCain's "straight talk".
In an effort to stymie McCain's efforts, those conservatives are making moves to change many western and midwestern primaries into caucuses -- where organized core activists will have a greater say in the allocation of delegates.

A good piece in the Manchester Union Leader looks at whether Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has "sold out" his maverick appeal "in trying to appeal to the GOP mainstream and the religious right."
However, even if McCain thinks a relationship with Jerry Falwell will patch things up with the right wing of his party, The Hotline suggests he's still got trouble brewing. "Under nearly everyone's radar, conservative activists in a handful of mostly Western and Midwestern states are edging closer to providing their base voters with a much greater say in choosing presidential candidates."
In short, they want to replace primaries with caucuses. "Why? Caucuses favor organized interests. Primaries dilute them. (Soccer moms don't vote in caucuses. Either do investment bankers. Moral conservatives usually do.)" And those people are considered less likely to vote for McCain.
Great news for any Democrat in 2008! If McCain is gone, it
drastically increases the chance of a Democrat being in the White
House.