The NYT warns that Obama “is sure to face an onslaught from Republicans and their allies that will be very different in tone and intensity from what he has faced so far.” Nonsense. As I’ve said before, this will be the most collegial presidential campaign ever, and not just because McCain’s people will be walking on eggshells because Obama’s black. McCain himself is simply uncomfortable going after Democrats with the same self-righteous fervor he displays in attacking his own. The maverick thing isn’t just schtick, it’s who he really is; if he’d become a Democrat early on, he’d be attacking Democrats all the time and preening about his higher morality (though the Dems probably wouldn’t have tolerated it and would have defenestrated him by now).

As evidence, look at this week’s incident with Cincinnati talk show host Bill Cunningham; while warming up the audience at a McCain rally, Cunningham kept referring to “Barack Hussein Obama,” calling him “a hack Chicago, Daley-style politician.” McCain wasn’t there at the time, but when asked about it, he didn’t say, “sure, it’s a little sophomoric, and I never use that kind of language, but after all, politics ain’t beanbag.” No, McCain followed the me-too, liberal Republican playbook and apologized. And he didn’t just apologize — he said the comments were “wrong,” “I condemn it,” “I absolutely repudiate such comments,” “I will certainly make sure nothing like that happens again.” (Jeez, you’d think Cunningham had taken a page from McCain’s friend Ted Kennedy and made a lying speech about “Barack Obama’s America.”)

That was the real McCain — rushing to the defense of his opponents with censorious attacks on his allies. Former allies, anyway; Cunningham rightly felt so betrayed at being thrown under the bus that he said “John McCain, I’m done with you. I may not vote for Hillary, but I’m done with Juan Pablo McCain. McCain should lose the election.” This from one of the few radio talk show hosts willing to campaign for him. Do you think this experience will encourage more to do so?