Leadership is often by nature unpopular

McCain's Finest Hour - Leadership sometimes means bucking public opinion

Excerpt:

Answered Mr. McCain: "I disagree with what the majority of the American people want. I still believe the majority of the American people, when asked, say if you can show them a path to success . . . then they'll support it." Later Mr. Pelley observed that Mr. McCain was betting his entire campaign on the success of the current "surge" strategy in Baghdad. The Senator replied that he'd "rather lose a campaign than lose a war."

Comment: This is what I like about John McCain: he provides principled leadership in the public discourse about the war.