>> Wasn’t there some kind of primary funny business which contributed to McCain being selected? <<
Yes, by all means. It was the endorsement of McCain by Florida’s “Republican” Governor Crist that put McCain in a commanding lead and caused Romney to withdraw. I believe Crist had been counted as a Rudy supporter before then. At any rate, the race was all over after McCain won the FL primary on the back of Charlie’s endorsement.
(Reports at the time indicated Crist had meglomaniacal visions of grandeur, seeing himself as a potential VP candidate. He may have refused to back Rudy, Romney or Huck when none of them would commit to selecting Charlie as running mate. But I guess we’ll have to wait for Rudy’s, Romney’s and Huck’s memoirs to learn the true inside stories.)
Crist is a money chaser. Party is no matter. Loved the stimulus. Jeb Bushes recent comments on Crist show either the deft hand of the Bushes in using Crist and tossing him, or they tell the truth about Crist. Crist’s actions, the scandal with Treasurer of the FL Repub. party, tend to show one who Crist really is. He’s like an afghan “fighter”— for rent by the day.