How did this guy ever get the nomination? Deep state. Primary voters in the go-along mode? No other candidates to step up. Hindsight is always 20-20 but we may have dozed a bullet when he screwed up.
He won and placed high very, very early in the very liberal IA and VT primaries. Was IMMEDIATELY called a “winner” by his (democrat media fan club) and the “front runner” for SC primary - which is an open (democrat can crossover and vote repubbie). That have him three quick wins. He was immediately crowned and annoited.
His campaign was falling apart and people were leaving. This was about the time it was clear that Obama was going to be the Democrat nominee. The deep state decided that McCain would be a better Republican to run against than Romney (because of Romneycare), so the media started pushing McCain as a Marverick. Then, after McCain won, the media turned on him and pushed Obama.