Don’t you think she sees Senator McCain through the lens of being an older military veteran and POW, which is someone to be looked up to? Many don’t realize what a RINO he is and only see his military service.
Unfortunately, she probably does see him as a military hero, and she's said that. But there are many thousands of military heroes in the US, and almost 600 ex-POWS from Vietnam. I think McCain has already gotten many times his share of the plaudits and career boosts due any ex-military man. It's long past time everyone viewed him as the politicians he is, and nothing else.
The still big, open question concerning Sarah for me is: Is she a John McCain Republican? She's done little to separate herself from him, and a fair amount to remain attached to him, and she's still dealing mostly in broad generalities.