EXCERPTED OPINION FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

HEAD: A Tale of Two Flip-Floppers

By KARL ROVE

John McCain and Barack Obama have both changed positions in this campaign.
That's OK. Voters understand that politicians can and, sometimes, should
change their views. After all, voters do. Witness the wide swings in their
answers to opinion polls.

But before accepting the changes, voters typically ask themselves three
questions: Does the candidate admit he's shifting? What's the new
information that altered his thinking? Does the change seem reasonable and
not calculating?

Sen. McCain has changed his position on drilling for oil on the outer
continental shelf. But because he explained this change by saying that
$4-a-gallon gasoline caused him to re-evaluate his position, voters are
likely to accept it.