I think it’s way too early to be making such dire predictions. The two haven’t even debated yet! When Americans finally see - between now and November - what we have been seeing now for a long time, they’ll reach the same conclusion: no way will they/we allow an American-hating, racist, pompous-ass empty suit win the election.
McCain is scheduled to speak before the NAACP and La Raza in the next few months. He is going to move further and further to the Left in the quixotic attempt to win independents and moderates. You can't outdemocrat a democrat. McCain is going to take the GOP down with him. Only the Stupid Party nominates its maverick to be its standard bearer.
The reason I make this "dire prediction" is that the McCain camp seems to be going out of its way to alienate the base. These guys seem to have no appreciation of what it takes to run a winning presidential campaign. If they are this inept in other strategy areas, and it seems they are, I contend we are screwed big-time.