Perhaps no one has racked up the frequent flyer miles in 2006 like John McCain. His grueling travel schedule should be enough to quell any concerns raised about his age.

It’s easier to list the states that he has not traveled to than those he has already visited. He could practically claim residence in the critical primary state of South Carolina.

Let’s take a look at a week on the Straight Talk Express:

Wednesday, June 21st: Reception honoring Congressman Tom Davis in Virginia

Friday, June 21st: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Forum in California

Monday, June 26th: Michigan State Republican Party Fundraiser in Rochester, MI

Thursday, June 29th: South Carolina State GOP 2006 Victory Party in Columbia, SC

Like him or despise him, it’s hard to deny that McCain’s strategy for victory in 2008 is clearly the best formulated of any ’08 candidate. Namely, hire the best and brightest from Bush/Cheney ’04 (McKinnon and Nelson), win the backing of the Bush money men (Loeffler), and campaign in ’06 for the officeholders that will owe you in ’08.

However, the most diffiicult challenge still lays ahead: winning over the GOP primary voters who he has infuriated for the past 8 years.