McCain wasn't among my favorite GOP candidates. In fact, being a conservative, I was discouraged when he got the nomination. I only had enthusiasm for the GOP ticket with the selection of Sarah Palin as VP, which gets us back to the thread header.
Yes, crossovers, and the MSM were complicit, but there are a lot of moderate RINOs as well. It is a distinction with a difference, really, but McCain was the failed candidate. I lost even more respect for him after the election when his minions tried to blame the loss on Sarah. Absurd notion. His lame defense of her days after the attacks began are how I'll remember him.
In the beginning, McCain was way down on my list of candidates too, WAY DOWN but when he became the nominee I supported him with money and my vote. I had no other choice. I am seriously afraid of what nObama will do to our country. McCain was the better of our 2 choices.