You nailed it. But it can still be turned around if a way can be found to blame the Rs (to find the proper enemy to blame) for the mess the Dems have created for themselves. That has begun in Fla, where there is a history of election "difficulties" in D precincts. There Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, after first blaming Howard Dean and party honchos, came around to adamantly blaming the Rs on a recent Fox News Sunday.
Some of the volatility in the Dem party can be seen in the way candidate Howard Dean was 'ditched' after he made his famous 'scream' on winning the Iowa Caucus in '04. That too was soon blamed on the Republicans and Dean was given the Party Chair a year later.
It is the stuff of hope for HRC, and this promises to be the most interesting convention year since 68. Played well, they might even get the Rs to pay for another (watch for that) D primary, at least in Florida, and even if they don't it appropriately focuses attention on the proper "culprits".
And you are right on point with the problem Republicans have with McCain. This shows the flaw in a popular media pumping up their own nominee.