It's not the way to get votes. Sen. Inhofe agreed, but indicated that he and other Senate Republicans have given up trying to persuade McCain to change his mind on anything. Everyone knows John McCain is just determined to get this up for a vote. But Colorado GOP Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell was by far the bluntest about McCain's holding town meetings in the states of other GOP senators. McCain's adamant pursuit of an issue most Republicans oppose has also aroused dismay and criticism from some advocates of his 2000 presidential campaign.
Any great team wins because they play as a team.
You don't go into someone's backyard and undermine the teammates. And looking at the 50-50 split in the Senate, when you undermine your base, you commit political suicide. Town meetings in other states are clearly a successful means of generating publicity for his agenda, so he participates in them. But anything's possible.