Yeah, he was leading but then the voters gotta a load of Palin and he kinda freaked out when the economy tanked.
Poor McCain. He had the juice in 2000 to win the thing but dubya went and hammered him in dixie.
So it goes.
McCain never lead, he got a jump when he brought Sarah on.
McCain is and alway's has been his own worst Enemy. Those that chose him, gave the Election away. Hillary probably would have beaten him too. I know at the time it didn't seem likely, and that opened the door for Obama, but McCain would have screwed it up.
Looking at what the GOP did by allowing McCain to run as the republican nom. and the way they have attacked their own this year, I think the heads of the GOP are RINO'S.