Explaining McCain's Campaign

It should be obvious by now that McCain's campaign is aimed at first getting good press coverage and then avoiding the current Republican stereotypes. He's avoided the most damaging stereotype (that Republicans are tolerant of racism) by being loudly in favor of open borders. He also has to avoid the back-up stereotype (that Republicans are servants of the upper class). Since McCain–Fengold didn't quite work, he's now bashing selected big businesses. This explain his otherwise-bizarre endorsement of a crackpot medical theory (seen via Respectful Insolence and Asymmetrical Information). He has to criticize at least one business and it can't be part of the media. He selected pharmaceuticals (which lost Orac's vote).

I personally think he should have selected hedge-fund managers. A strong endorsement of the Efficient-Market Hypothesis would have agreed with free-market economics while violating the standard conservative stereotype.