He did sign a pledge to honor a recall. It is a total waste of time. It was tried once, and failed, and it would fail again. Here is why.
No one who is electable will run against him, they all remember McCain's 15 million dollar smear campaign against J.D. Hayworth in 2010.
McCain controls the Arizona Republican party, he has operatives spread through the party at all levels.
Far too many no information voters in Az. have the battered wife syndrome, they will vote for McCain no matter what.
Then there is the "but he is a war hero" crowd who would follow McCain over a cliff.
I understand these things from many years inside the Airzona Republican Party.
the recall did not fail it was withdrawn after 9-11-01 check your facts
http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/mccain/articles/2007/03/01/20070301mccainbio-chapter11.html