There's no singular explanation for the media's bias towards McCain, but I do think that one of the reasons that many individual reporters are reluctant to challenge him is that he is a DC institution. McCain and his staff and allies have helped countless reporters on stories big and small, whether its breaking news, or getting a key quote, or just demonstrating access. Given that, it only makes sense that they would cut McCain slack. It may not be right, but reporters, after all, are human.
The problem for these reporters is that in protecting McCain, they are missing out on an opportunity to provide meaningful coverage of the 2008 election at a time during which there is a tremendous demand for such reporting.
So here's my prediction: Given all the stuff lurking below the surface of the McCain campaign, at some point this election cycle something big will break about McCain -- some important story relevant to his presidential campaign that has not yet been told. I've got no idea what that story might be. But it will happen, and it will be big.
And the reporter that breaks it will probably be less experienced than most of his or her colleagues, and -- perhaps ironically -- won't have particularly close ties to the McCain organization.
© Jed Lewison