John McCain began the day rejecting the endorsement of a second Christian conservative minister and now the Arizona Senator is being rejected by conservative bloggers across the country.

Clearly, McCain’s relationship with conservatives–who make up the majority of GOP voters–is worsening. And there are more than five months to go to election day.

Earlier, McCain had rejected the endorsement of Rev. John Hagee. Today he spurned the endorsement of Rev. Parsley, whose remarks on Islam the good senator found offensive. Parsley said that Islam was “an anti-Christ religion” which is trying to take over the world “through violence.”

I could debate Parsely’s interpretation (the favorable references to Jesus in the Koran are numerous), but I can also see his reasoning (Muslim persecution of Arab Christians from Lebannon to Egypt to Saudi Arabia and Iran is growing.) And, be rejecting the divinity of Christ, one could argue that Muslims are “anti-Christ.” As for taking over the world through violence, well, what does John McCain see out of his porthole?

McCain’s rejection of Parsley looks like another instance of P.C. prissiness.

And it looks politically maladroit. The McCain camp is not exactly swarming with support. Why reject the few friends who turn up unbidden?

Oh, because Rev. Parsley and his crowd are not acceptable at the country club. They are awfully serious about religion. And, my, they probably could lose some weight. And, is there any way they could stop shopping a Wal-Mart?

I am exaggerating a bit. But McCain’s inner circle is both well-heeled and liberal. They don’t want to spoil their pure image with the press by allowing a few conservative Christians to clamber aboard. But, of course, victory coalitions are multi-hued things. Losing ones all look alike.