The F-Word

But that doesn't mean McCain's challenges have magically disappeared. He still has a sour relationship with many influential conservatives, who remain determined to derail his campaign. Later this week, NEWSWEEK has learned, McCain will be on the cover of the widely read conservative magazine Human Events, in a story focusing on the senator's combative relationship with his party over the years.

"For the first time in the race, we have an undisputed front runner, for now," says Greg Mueller, a Washington-based Republican consultant who is not aligned with any of the campaigns. "The establishment is slowly adopting him, (but) he still needs to build a stronger bridge to conservatives."

The results in Florida are an important start. While his earlier wins owed much to support from independents and crossover voters, the Sunshine State's primary allowed only registered Republicans. McCain and his aides say the convincing win here shows that whatever problems he might have with the GOP base can't be that bad. Aides credited the win to McCain's record on national security and fiscal restraint and, perhaps above everything else, the ability to win against a Democrat in November. While Romney campaigned as the man who could help turn around the economy, a slight majority of Florida voters who named that issue as most important to them went for McCain.

To do well on Super Tuesday, McCain will have retain the enthusiasm he has always enjoyed among independents and moderates, while showing conservatives he can be trusted as their nominee. He'll also have to win in what is the equivalent of a national campaign. With so many states up for grabs on Tuesday, the senator will have little time to devote to the kind of retail politicking upon which he thrives. "I'd rather just get in a bus and hit a bunch of town halls … I think that's more effective than just having some rally where you say the same speech every time. It's good to mix it up with people, even if someone stands up and argues with you," McCain told reporters earlier this week. "But they won't let me. I think they are afraid I'm going to say the wrong thing."

Money is also a question mark. Romney has indicated that he will continue to spend heavily from his personal fortune. McCain ended the year with less than $10 million in the bank. After wins in New Hampshire and South Carolina, the senator has spent nearly as much time raising money as campaigning—he has raised more than $7 million since the beginning of the year. But aides acknowledge they likely still won't be able to keep up with Romney financially. "It's going to be a race that takes place all over the TV," says Steve Schmidt, a senior McCain adviser.

For now, McCain and his aides are focused on the most immediate hurdle: Wednesday night's GOP debate at the Reagan Library outside Los Angeles. On the plane ride to California, McCain and his advisers huddled in full view of a press corps that photographed and took note of every little tic, looking for clues as to the mind-set of the candidate and his campaign.