"Romney would drop out of the presidential race before ever releasing further tax returns."

[karynnj]

88. I doubt she did either - why would she?

In addition, I doubt that McCain himself would leak anything to hurt Romney. Though he is a pretty flawed character, the one thing that is a constant in understanding him is that he perceives "honor" as he did in the military - allegiance to the organization he is in. Much as he cast himself as a maverick, you can't find a time where he actually moved against his party's leadership when it came down to him being the critical factor.

Not to mention, there is potential upside to him getting a Republican President. I would imagine that he sees himself as a very likely Secretary of Defense. (For a President Romney, even if the Senate (please God) stays with the Democrats, he would easily be confirmed and Arizona has a Republican Governor.) If not this, he likely would have more power than he does with President Obama as President to have his opinions heard.

Now, it is possible that some of the McCain team strongly dislike Romney - and have less loyalty to McCain than they should and a willingness to have Romney lose to facilitate a different part of the party winning in 2016. Remember that some of the McCain people included people who swiftboated not just Kerry, but McCain himself in 2000. Those people are likely not all that trustworthy.