McCain was in losing mode when Palin bucked their defeatism. McCain, probably on the advice of staffers, gave up Michigan. Palin said, “Send me!” I never thought McCain was a loser (thought a lot of things about him, but not that.) but I think he had a loser mentality advising him. These are the same rats jumping the ship the day before the election leaking stuff about Palin. Rats like these are professional political staffers who, when their candidate begins to go down, are looking for their next job. Part of that process is to NOT let the blame for the loss be pinned on them. Thus the Palin blameshifting.
Found an interesting tidbit today. You know how the McCain political staffers and press were denigrating Palin over the speech she allegedly was going to give? They all said V.P. candidates don't give concession speeches when their ticket loses. Well, that's B.S. Here's a link to the transcript of the concession speech John Edwards gave at Faneuil Hall in Boston, the night he and Kerry lost:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22589-2004Nov3.html
I guess concession speeches are only okay if you're a Democrat.