I just don't see the upside for McCain in this. I watched CNN at the gym as this was coming out and it was not looking good for him. People were either uncomfortable (defenders, neutrals) or almost gleeful at how insanely weird this is (Dana Millbank).
How can McCain be said to hold all the cards when he's not in control of the media narrative, and couldn't hope to be at this stage in the campaign, with him behind slightly and the polls not favoring him? His is not the Bush campaign of 2004, which really was in control the whole time. This is different. Winning a news cycle isn't the same as winning an election. Meanwhile the media is getting madder and madder.
What demographic is at your gym? Just asking?
Oh, I didn't talk to anyone at my gym--I was talking about the reaction on CNN. You're right, though, my gym is horrifically unrepresentative. (No gym is, actually, unless you catch the people paying their initial membership who then never come back.)
It is run by a marine, though.