Who's at the top of the ticket shouldn't matter if the other Congressional names are going to be ticked.
I voted for Keyes (who was not my first choice but someone I could go with over McCain or Huckabee by the time the primary came to my state).
There are 2 candidates in this race. Only 2. Anything else is a protest vote as mine was. I do not consider my vote wasted. I also do not see any upside to enabling Obama to be victorious.
McCain is where he is because Democrats helped get him there. He is still a better presidential candidate than Obama. McCain may not even make it four years, Obama barring unforeseen circumstances, most assuredly will. Possibly 8 years. I don't think anyone is predicting 8 years of McCain.
You're mistaken. There was no real choice. It wasn't allowed this time around.