Jim Messina, his chief of staff, was asleep when the phone went next morning with news of the McCain camp.

Nobody in the McCain camp says it is their plan.

The McCain camp had been counting on Democrats to flood to their side, as they have elsewhere.

And the McCain camp began broadcasting three new radio spots, all of them seeking to stoke rebellion against negative advertisements.

It is an excruciating story to hear, and the McCain camp offers potential supporters any number of ways to hear it.

Still, the challenges for the McCain camp are formidable.

But once the shock wore off, they realized the McCain camp may have blundered by taking the gloves off.

Then again... why is the McCain camp so upbeat?

Confused, I checked in with the McCain camp.

The event was first broached by the McCain camp, which may have the most to gain.