Just read in the paper today (having breakfast in a tavern with the wife, kids were away ) that McCain's campaign was falling apart at the seams. Palin was named as the number 1 cause for the following reasons
- she is going rogue
- she is an extremist
- she is ignorant and dense (some of the things she's said... )
- she had a number of skeletons falling out of her closet during the campaign
- she does not understand the electorate, judging by the fact that she spent 150000 euros on clothes, and her makeup assistant ears 9000 euros per week...

There were other factors mentioned for the McCain campaign problems (his initial cozying up to Bush, chaotic campaign planning, the Obama bashing) but Palin seems to be his biggest detractor.