I like your analysis and it provoked the thought: we don’t hear about how old/sick McCain is any more much, do we?
One benefit to the debates has been that McCain is obviously sharp, energetic, and healthy. There is not difference in the energy or capacity of the two men as they stand toe to toe. I have not even considered the issue of “too old” when watching the debates.
Is that argument dead?
It;s dead until McCain starts polling better, then the MSM will begin again with the “McCain’s too old” meme.