Conservative - The new toxic tag?

Over the last forty years the Republican spin machine turned "Liberal" into a toxic tag. So much so that liberals started referring to themselves as "progressives." Just a few days ago conservatives were pointing out that Barack Obama was the most "liberal" senator in 1997. The conservatives are also very vocal about their belief that John McCain is not a conservative.

Call him “maverick”, call him “independent,” but please don’t call McCain “conservative.”

In spite of this, or perhaps because of it, John McCain seems to be well on his way to the Republican nomination and is the only candidate that might actually have a chance to win in November. Could it be that after seven years of the Bush administration the "Conservative" tag has replaced "Liberal" as the most toxic.