There’s enough anecdotal and real evidence in terms of an incremental polling uptick that it’s inevitable the NYT, WP, WSJ or other opinion-leader will write a trend-setting “John McCain’s Back” story very, very soon.
To help this along, the McCain campaign is spinning the John Kerry 2004 Iowa comeback analogy, which is somewhat overstated, but that’s a good enough hook into the inevitable McCain comeback storyline.
The press wants to write it — especially as Thompson, Romney and, now, Giuliani, encounter a few roadbumps. Seems like some of those drifting to Fred when he initially jumped in are moving over, or, back to McCain. As long as Iraq situation continues to “improve”, and immigration and campaign finance reform are out of the news, the “comeback” or perception thereof will be an emerging storyline.
But you make your own luck, and the McCain guys are doing so.