Professor comments on McCain, Goldwater comparisons

As the second Arizonan to clinch the top spot on the GOP ticket, Sen. John McCain is still somewhat in the shadow of Barry Goldwater, Arizona's original straight-talking Republican presidential candidate.

However, in some respects, McCain has outshone his predecessor, says Michael Rubinoff, former political consultant and film and media studies professor.

"Most importantly, he's more viable to win the presidency than Goldwater was," says Rubinoff. "In that sense, he is bigger than Goldwater was in his time."