“Guess again. This “he’s not as bad as the other guy” ain’t gonna wash.”
And, so, you’re already declaring McCain the loser? That is the only appeal some can find to make in McCain’s favor.
And it will apply more to the top of the ticket than the bottom, to which you’re trying to apply it.
McCain is losing right now. Putting in a divisive liberal with a penchant for lying as his running mate will make doubly certain that the Conservative base will NOT turn out for him. “I’m not Obama” isn’t enough for him to win. It wasn’t enough for Dole in ‘96 running against Bubba. You have to motivate the base and he isn’t doing it.