Stephanopoulos: Rush 'Hates' McCain But I Don't Think He Can Stop Him

Is it just me, or was there a defiant tone in George Stephanopoulos's voice this morning as he declared that Rush Limbaugh can't stop John McCain? The "This Week" host was a guest commentator on today's Good Morning America, and co-anchor Robin Roberts began by playing a clip of a recent Rush comment.

ROBIN ROBERTS: Let's start with the Republicans. Of course John McCain, the big lead over Romney, but not everyone is rallying around McCain. Let's listen to this for a moment.

Cut to Rush clip.

View video here.

RUSH LIMBAUGH: I don't think Senator McCain understands nor do I think the Republican party establishment understand just how much disgust there is out there amongst their own voters, people like you in this audience. I don't think they get it.

ROBERTS: Conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh. Speed bump, or --

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: He has been on the warpath for weeks against John McCain. He hates John McCain. He wants to beat John McCain. But it's going to be very tough for him to do that tonight. If McCain holds onto the biggest states where he's been competing, the winner-take-all states, New York, New Jersey, his home state of Arizona, Missouri, he's going to be very, very hard to stop. And I don't think Rush Limbaugh can do it.

Beyond the tone of Stephanopoulos's voice, look at what appears to be his defiant smirk. Is this not a man eager to see conservatives go down?