Who is reponsible for McCain's imminent election loss ?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Different people at different times.

Bush - naturally ANY Republican would have had a hard time this year having to follow on from the president. McCain still has done better than probably any of the possible contenders, including Romney. But the Bush legacy is pretty much a poison challice, which set everything off in a bad direction.

Palin - McCain has often said that he takes gambles. Sarah Palin was a MASSIVE gamble... or if you like, calculated risk. At the outset she energised the base, and was a curiosity, the sheer surprise of the pick, and the fact that it was a woman - boosted general support. However, as people realised who she was, what she stood for - independent and moderates fled, the base was energised...but at what cost. Another folksy intellectually incurious.... well basically Bush in pumps...

McCain - the fundamental issue was the campaign had no narrative, no overiding theme. There was no discipline, the campaign was constantly wrong-footed and by going so overwhelmingly negative, created such a contrasting image with the Obama campaign that it became mired in the mud of its own creation.