The Page

THE VICTOR

McCain's Moment

With a sweep of four more states on March 4, John McCain officially captured the delegates needed to become the GOP nominee. By noon the next day, he and his wife were at the White House having lunch with onetime rival President George W. Bush and enjoying the embrace--albeit belated--of his party.

Politics up to the minute Mark Halperin reports from the campaign every day on thepage.time.com

BY THE NUMBERS

The Road Grows Ever Longer

Hillary Clinton's triple win on March 4 brings the total number of states that have voted to 36--and means the Democratic race could stretch into June. Can we handle this much democracy? Here's a look at primary end dates from the past:

March 2 JOHN KERRY Secured '04 nomination after 30 states had voted

March 14 GEORGE W. BUSH Secured '00 nomination after 30 states had voted

Match 14 AL GORE Secured '00 nomination after 31 states had voted

March 19 BOB DOLE Secured '96 nomination after 26 states had voted

June 2 BILL CLINTON Secured '92 nomination after 48 states had voted

GOD-O-METER

Religious Illiteracy

Despite retracting his earlier description of the religious right as "agents of intolerance," John McCain still displays a religious tone deafness. Witness his campaign's recent enthusiastic reaction to the endorsement from Christian Zionist John Hagee. The Texas pastor has alluded to the Catholic Church as "the great whore" and has linked it to Hitler. It seems no one in McCain's camp was prepared for angry blowback from Catholics. The conservative Catholic League says McCain "has shown horrendous judgment in buddying up to this bigot." McCain will only say, "I obviously do not" agree with "all of Pastor Hagee's views."

SECULARIST THEOCRAT

For daily God-o-Meter readings covering all the presidential candidates, visit beliefnet.com