IMHO, Sarah Palin is the only thing that is making this a contest. If McCain had picked any of the RINO men on the supposed short list, the social conservatives and Libertarian conservatives would be staying home in droves and McCain would be vying with George McGovern for "Biggest Loser in Election History." (Huckabee not so much a RINO, but while he might have brought the White evangelicals in, he would still have left the Libertarians and probably the fiscal conservatives cold, and I'm not sure McCain was even really seriously considering him).
I agree - Maybe it was planned, but knowing McCain, its just as likely that selecting Palin was a happy accident. Anyway, she has credentials that appeal to conservatives, and a compelling story and demeanor that appeals to the mushy middle. As a whole, she makes nobody totally happy, and other than the moonbats who are suffering from massive psychological trauma caused by their unmediated Palinsanity and the snotty latte-sippers on both sides of the isle, noone totally dislikes her either.
And I mean it about the Latte-sippers, including conservatives. Look at the list of Republicans who now back Obama, and you'll agree.