It was not so long ago that Republicans fretted about the putative difficulty conservatives would have in summoning the same animosity towards Barack Obama that they harbored towards Hillary Clinton. How could they bring themselves to man the battle stations on behalf of a candidate many had opposed in the primary?

My, how times change. Since the March 4 primary, conservatives have learned about Reverend Wright and heard Obama’s discourse on small-town America. Moreover, they have seen the same liberal characteristics in Obama that have driven them to distraction for decades now: moral relativism, condescension to working-class Americans, and the application of double standards. Add in Obama’s fascination with Palestinian activists, a former Weather Underground member, and more than one hate-spewing preacher, and you have a mixture more than potent enough to get the dander up of the very same people who, months ago, were threatening to stay home in November.

So if McCain’s staff were nervous that conservatives might be less than enthusiastic about going after his opponent, they can rest easy now. Obama has done a fine job of making himself into an opponent conservatives will love to attack.