Standing next to Palin (on her way up the popularity Elevator, that also went down with unfortuitous timing for the campaigns purposes), especially at the beginning, he reminded me of Pappy O'Daniel in O Brother Where Art Thou in the finale;
I mean, that scene doesnt show it, but after this excerpt when Pappy gets on stage he literally is warming his hands by the warmth of the Soggy Bottom Boy's popularity and fanfare... and that is exactly what McCain did wrong from an image point of view-- he looked desperate (and it seemed that he believed the plain and handsome Governor of Alaska was his saving grace).
Recall the scene towards the very beginning when O'Daniel's team discusses the opposition, and the conclusion was, "you cant get Reform if you are the incumbent candidate." (if I recalled the quote correctly.)
Whoever was in control of the imagery of the Straight Talk Express should have been fired after The Green Monster, and I think may even have been-- that said the young and to some attractive Governor only served to further demonstrate the age and wounds of the veteran Senator.
