Another Explanation

From George Will's column in the Washington Post:

Certain kinds of conservatives, distrusting Richard Nixon's ideological elasticity, rejected him -- until 1973. Although it had become clear that his administration was a crime wave, they embraced him because the media were his tormentors. Today such conservatives, whose political compasses are controlled, albeit negatively, by the New York Times, have embraced John McCain. He, although no stickler about social niceties (see below), should thank the Times, for two reasons.

For some reason Will ignores the equally plausible explanation that "certain kinds of conservatives" don't take their candidates seriously until they prove they can be sufficiently corrupt.