Too many candidates and perhaps one ringer. I suspect that Fred Thompson worked to get McCain the nomination. Fred ran so far beneath his ability that I was concerned his cancer was acting up again. The the words Mission Accomplished appeared on his web site after McCain won the nomination. At least that is what was posted here.
It was the cross-over votes in the early states from rats that gave him the illusion of inevitability. They clearly said he was a weak candidate for the GOP a long time before. We’re only on life support now because of Sarah Palin.