On CNN's State of the Union this morning, host Candy Crowley asked Senator John McCain what he thought of Sarah Palin's recent firestorm of media attention — her new book, new reality show, and all the other publicity she has been receiving recently. When Crowley asked if McCain felt Palin might be divisive, he responded: "A guy named Ronald Reagan used to be viewed as divisive."

"She's doing a great job. I think she's motivated our base," McCain added. "She had a positive impact on the last election, and I'm proud of her."

McCain is a man without fear, and thus even though he is in large measure "establishment" in his views, he's not going to run and hide from something like the Palin phenomena.