Well, that was not all McCain's and Palin's fault. Bush/Cheney left the GOP brand in tatters during the 2006 and 2008 elections. It took the Tea Party rubes to bring the GOP back in 2010. So he is hardly in a position to lecture about success and failure in that regard.
McCain staggered around debate stages yelling at his supporters. I think this was a big part of it!
Also he reused to use the political gift of the century that was placed in his lap...Rev Wright and all of Obama`s terrorist left wing radical pals