Further thought. Massachusettes has always honored the maverick. Sam Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock (before he got into insurance!) etc. McCain fits this mold. I think that's why Mass has drifted liberal. They LIKE someone who challenges authority. From the Boston Tea Party to the Concord Alarm. It fires them up. Maybe, just maybe, they see this maverick tendency in McCain and its looks good.
We'll see!