Why has John McCain run such an inept campaign if he managed to beat 7 other Republicans for the nomination?

He had to fight off Romney and Giuliani and Fred Thompson and all those other guys just to reach the nomination. Why didn't that experience hone his political skills, and sharpen his campaign?





Instead, he lacks a consistent message, and will probably get beaten in a couple weeks.





What happened?Why has John McCain run such an inept campaign if he managed to beat 7 other Republicans for the nomination?
I wondered that myself! And he came from last place!





The thing is, all the Republican candidates this year were seriously flawed. Romney was a Mormon and completely out of the question with the Religious Right. Huckabee was 'The Christian Candidate' but the party is trying to minimize that these days. Thompson was seen as the next Reagan when he came into the race but he turned out to be just old and tired-looking. Giuliani was just -creepy-.





It just wasn't a good year all around for the Republicans. The financial crisis was just the frosting on the cake.Why has John McCain run such an inept campaign if he managed to beat 7 other Republicans for the nomination?
How formidable was his competition, really? Fred Thompson turned out to be a big disappointment as soon as he had to speak without a script. Romney did have business experience and was a governor but the social conservatives didn't really trust him and he comes across as disingenuous. I was surprised about Giuliani, though. I really thought that a pro-choice, pro-gay rights, pro-gun control, cross-dressing New York City mayor had a chance. Who knew?
That's a very good question. I guess you have to look at each candidate individually against McCain. I know Giuliani and Thompson are worse. Thompson is a more obvious war monger and Giuliani is too crooked. Not familiar with Romney. I know Huckabee was out to lunch. He wasn't following the news at all during the primaries and it showed when he spoke.


Still....hard to believe McCain beat them all.
Obama just has a way to inspire people. A lot of people don't care to much for that ability but over the passed several months he has shown a lot of traits of a good leader.





Where McCain on the other hand... Likes to do the opposite and divide people? Heh... Probably get a lot of thumbs down on that one too. This section is full of NeoCons.
Actually, if either Romney or Huckabee hadnt run. Then either Romney or Huckabee would have won the nomination. With both of them in, the vote that would have won for them was split. McCain picked up the religious right vote and it was enough to beat the other two with a divided conservative vote.
I'm absolutely still voting for him, but you're right about his campaign. I have no idea what his people are thinking. It's certainly not like Obama and Biden aren't giving McCain's people anything to go on the offensive with.





I mean Biden guaranteeing that a major international crisis would immediately follow an Obama victory and Obama's comments towards the people of Pennsylvania... it's mind boggling to me that the race is close but I guess we'll see how things go on Election Day.
He realized that he'd rather lose this election instead, because we need to see how foolish people are for voting for Obama.
He is doing good to keep his head above water with the biased media crying Obama wants you to apologize for smearing him.









Sarah Palin happened.
McCain is going to get about 85% of the undecided vote....his campaign is not inept.
Some Republicans say he runs great with a crowd but fails when alone.
you tell me