My theory on McCain is: by the time he started making a comeback it was pretty well determined by “those” who decide these things that a democrat would win (any democrat, at that). The Bush hatred was just too strong. So, they let this nice senior have his 15 minutes in the sun with even McCain knowing he would lose. Thus their surprise when Sarah energized everyone. (backroom: “Mmm, that wasn’t supposed to happen — shut her down.”
I will agree; however, McCain is a RINO known to be a dimwit, Keating 5, and had some problems with natural born citizen too. One of the biggest con jobs on America ever.