McCain, like Bradley, won and lost by running his campaign his own way. Both were their own closest advisers, listening to others but ultimately going their own way. Within their own campaigns, they were mavericks - and in the heat of crucial moments, that led to blunders. For McCain, the still-unexplained decision not to take part in last week s debate in California, over the objections of his communications director, proved a big blow to his prospects in the nation s biggest state. Both McCain and Bradley also took big risks in their pledges to take the high road in the face of attacks from their opponents, in effect disarming themselves.
History shows they almost never do, especially at a time of peace and prosperity.
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