The Colorado River Compact, signed in 1922, is one of the few issues in this campaign older than McCain himself. It states simply that those states in the Upper Basin, where the water starts, must provide water at a rate of 7.5 million acre feet per year to the Lower Basin, to ensure that both halves get approximate equal amounts of water.

This puts Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico in the water-rich Upper Basin; California, Arizona and Nevada are in the dryer Lower Basin. The project allowed for irrigation of the Southwest and was pivotal to the development in the area.

Recently, it's been found that, well, there's less rain than there is supposed to be. It is hypothesized that the compact was forged during a time of heavy rain and the actual rainfall is somewhere between 13 and 14 million acre feet per year. Now that there's less rain, there's less river.   Some tensions have understandably arisen, but a 2007 arrangement that allows for states to undertake water projects had alleviated some concern.

Then, along came John McCain:

"I don't think there's any doubt the major, major issue is water and can be as important as oil. So the compact that is in effect, obviously, needs to be renegotiated over time amongst the interested parties," McCain said while on his way to the Aspen Institute.

Ken Salazar respectfully disagreed:

"Senator McCain's position on opening up the Colorado River Compact is absolutely wrong and would only happen over my dead body," Salazar said. "It's an anathema to the fundamental principles of Colorado's water rights and our compacts."

The Denver Post was similarly restrained:

We don't vote for water rustlers in this state; we tar and feather them!

Some of the problem resides in the fact that McCain's state, Arizona, is in the Lower Basin. As such, any renegotiation could result in water being redirected to Arizona, especially from Colorado and Utah. Considering that water in the region is scarce (see: drought), an additional water grab doesn't show particular political savvy in the  region.

Now, however, one more voice has risen up against the Colorado River Compact renegotiation. It's Mitt Romney, performing a poor imitation of a ventriloquist, attempting to soothe over thirsty Coloradans:

"Senator McCain has no interest in reopening the compact," Romney said today. "Senator McCain believes as I do that a compact that's been worked out between the governors and between the states is the right way to go."

Hmmm... Let's see:

So the compact that is in effect, obviously, needs to be renegotiated over time amongst the interested parties

Senator McCain has no interest in reopening the compact

If John McCain doesn't speak for John McCain, who does?