As a McCain supporter (and contributor) in 2000 and 2008 permit me to add a few thoughts:
1. Although it is correct that by August some of the air seemed to be leaking out of the Obama campaign and McCain seemed to be narrowing the gap, the financial meltdown of September completely changed the situation.
2. I believe that no Republican candidate could have won after the meltdown. No matter what he or she had done or said. Perhaps McCain could have handled the situation better by continuing to campaign and not making a big deal about "suspending" his campaign to go to Washington and then get stuck in the bailout discussions. However, no amount of campaining could have resurrected the GOP brand after an unpopular war, a financial crisis and an unpopular President widely thought to be out of touch.
3. I realize it is an unpopular opinion (both on this forum and in my own family) but I think the Palin choice was probably the best gamble McCain could take. It succeeded in mobilizing the base and injecting some excitment in what would otherwise have been a dull "two old white guys" ticket. Lieberman would have been seem by the Democrats as even more of a traitor than he is seen today and he would have been rejected by most Republicans, Romney would have been seen as a greedy ex vulture fund capitalist and Pawlenty would have been seen as . . . not much of anything. As an ex fighter jock, McCain knew he was in Obama's gunsights and something unexpected was required in order to not be blown out of the sky. He took a risk and at first it seemed to be working until a combination of Palin's own limitations and the piling on of the media reduced Palin to a joke. Even then (or perhaps because of it) Palin still was useful in getting conservatives to volunteer and actually vote. Please remember, McCain was, and still is, suspected of being a closet moderate by many conservatives.
4. Short of a gigantic mistake by the Obama campaign, 2008 was going to be a Democratic year. McCain did as good or better than any other Republican and he retained his dignity while losing. He continues to be a leader in the Senate and he may have some influence over who the next GOP nominee is.
5. Rather than making any gigantic mistakes, the Obama campaign ran a smart and controlled race and won by a good but not great margin. Like many successful campaigns (see J. Carter, W. Clinton and G. W. Bush) they then thought that governing a country was similar to campaigning and they have had a rough first year. Only time will tell if they will go down in flames like Mr. Carter or or make some needed mid course coreections like Clinton and win a second term.
1. Although it is correct that by August some of the air seemed to be leaking out of the Obama campaign and McCain seemed to be narrowing the gap, the financial meltdown of September completely changed the situation.
2. I believe that no Republican candidate could have won after the meltdown. No matter what he or she had done or said. Perhaps McCain could have handled the situation better by continuing to campaign and not making a big deal about "suspending" his campaign to go to Washington and then get stuck in the bailout discussions. However, no amount of campaining could have resurrected the GOP brand after an unpopular war, a financial crisis and an unpopular President widely thought to be out of touch.
3. I realize it is an unpopular opinion (both on this forum and in my own family) but I think the Palin choice was probably the best gamble McCain could take. It succeeded in mobilizing the base and injecting some excitment in what would otherwise have been a dull "two old white guys" ticket. Lieberman would have been seem by the Democrats as even more of a traitor than he is seen today and he would have been rejected by most Republicans, Romney would have been seen as a greedy ex vulture fund capitalist and Pawlenty would have been seen as . . . not much of anything. As an ex fighter jock, McCain knew he was in Obama's gunsights and something unexpected was required in order to not be blown out of the sky. He took a risk and at first it seemed to be working until a combination of Palin's own limitations and the piling on of the media reduced Palin to a joke. Even then (or perhaps because of it) Palin still was useful in getting conservatives to volunteer and actually vote. Please remember, McCain was, and still is, suspected of being a closet moderate by many conservatives.
4. Short of a gigantic mistake by the Obama campaign, 2008 was going to be a Democratic year. McCain did as good or better than any other Republican and he retained his dignity while losing. He continues to be a leader in the Senate and he may have some influence over who the next GOP nominee is.
5. Rather than making any gigantic mistakes, the Obama campaign ran a smart and controlled race and won by a good but not great margin. Like many successful campaigns (see J. Carter, W. Clinton and G. W. Bush) they then thought that governing a country was similar to campaigning and they have had a rough first year. Only time will tell if they will go down in flames like Mr. Carter or or make some needed mid course coreections like Clinton and win a second term.