The final nail on McCain?

So, how does this go down with the Republican faithful?

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions.

In interviews with The Hill this month, former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and ex-Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.) said there were nearly two months of talks with the maverick lawmaker following an approach by John Weaver, McCain’s chief political strategist.

....in McCain’s case, they said, it was McCain’s top strategist who came to them.

McCain denies this of course, but his former staffer Weaver, who made the approach and "who changed his party affiliation to “Democrat” several years ago,"

McCain consistently shot down the rumors, though Weaver acknowledged this week that the senator did talk to Democrats about leaving the GOP.

Excuse me, Mr. McCain. Would you like me to take that knife in your back?