McCain's motives

Todd Beeton brings up an important point:

As for McCain's motives for doing the right thing, they may not be entirely selfless in nature. Sure it could be out of a hidden store of decency, or it could simply be political expediency. Take a look at the new Newsweek poll of RVs and you see what his shameful attacks on Obama have gotten him: Obama leads McCain by 11 points, up from a tie a month ago.

I agree that McCain's motives are not entirely selfless in nature. I'm sure a big part of it has been calls from Republican leaders telling him, in no uncertain terms, that they were not willing to let him take the party down with him and that the recent incendiary turn in his campaign was doing just that.

But really, who cares? Even if McCain did it for selfish reasons it was still the right thing to do. And for those who worry that it might turn the campaign around for McCain I think they are ignoring the fundamentals. The wind is as strong at Obama's back as it has ever been in any campaign I have ever observed. There really is nothing that McCain can do to win this thing. His only remaining hope is in things that are outside his control: a monumental meltdown in the Obama campaign or a horrible act of God that completely changes the current dialog.

So McCain had a choice: lose badly or just lose. I think he has made the choice to just lose. I hope I am right.