McCain is too decent and human to run on the GOP ticket. WTF. He doesn't even want to win.
I think he has his flaws (his temper) but I also think he's compromised his own integrity along this path and is regretting it deep down. I suspect you're right. Some day he'll look back on this and come clean about being feeling that he lost control of his campaign.
Personally, I can forgive and forget down the road when it comes to this guy. Just don't want him to win. Nothing personal.
Palin, not so much. She's a nut and always will be.