Don’t feel bad, they were talking like this in 2007. Then the Mighty McCain emerged, like a beast stalking the Earth, and laid waste to all...oh, wait. :)
McCain was well known and extremely unpopular with conservatives in 2007. He wasn’t particularly high in the polls throughout 2007 (but he did start by leading the polls), but he did win fairly easily. Mostly by being the most famous, or the top republican.
Until Gingrich is out of the race, he’s the possible McCain of 2012.