John McCain has, yet again, shifted gears in his campaign, now assuming a less vitriolic tone against Barack Obama. Sure, he's still pushing the William Ayers "guilt by association" line, but  it seems clear that he's intent to tamp down the recent explosions of racist sentiment found at recent rallies. It's generally suggested in the media that he's doing this out of a suddenly restored desire to run a respectable campaign but I would suggest that it's something else entirely. John McCain has come to the realization that he is going to loose this election. No matter how the math is done, his chances of winning the majority of electoral college votes is slim to none. Ever the savvy politician, McCain now realizes that he needs to end the campaign in a kinder, gentler tone so as to avoid alienating the next president. Failing to do so would make his life on the hill after a crushing defeat that much more difficult.