Yes, he just would have to explain peolpe why conservative policies since 1980 caused a catastrophical and useless crusade and an economical crisis due to a blind "laisser-faire" ideology. In synthesis, why conservatism ruined America. You're right, nothing more simple !
On that particular count, actually, John McCain had the same problems as a far right Republican would have had. (And Obama hardly represented change, anyhow.
)
But McCain was a safe pair of hands and a household name and could not be painted as a frothing-at-the-mouth-extremist or even all that well (tho' it was tried) as just a third Bush term. In other words, people disapproving of Bush but squeamish at voting for an outlandish inexperienced black muslim terrorist hugger could vote for John McCain.
Whether they would have voted for Mitt Romney is highly dubious.
