You’re right. Sarah pulled McCain ahead for a period of time after his announcement of her as his running mate. Then as the financial crisis unfolded McCain true to form tried to position himself to the left of 0 especially during that second debate. He also had those dimwits Schmidt and Wallace running things into the ground from the inside. From that point on he was too busy trying to be the “reach across the aisle maverick” (which is about the biggest oxymoron out there). What a mess.
McCain nailed his own coffin shut when he rushed back to DC to campaign FOR the bailouts. Had he been a CONSERVATIVE leader and fought against them, he would have set himself apart from Bush AND Obama and he and Sarah would’ve won the day.