Yes McCain Was Nearly The Ideal Candidate
To practice what even Republican party conservatives used to preach about campaign finance reform and fiscal conservatism. Now its OK to get as much money as you want from rich companies and individuals and return to deficits to finance tax cuts for them.
McCain would have probably trounced Gore and kept Republican control of Congress by not alienating moderate Republican Jeffries. I think McCain would have been more the DNC's nigtmare than dream candidate.
Regards,
Mark