I agree that McCain was either ordered to lose, or he decided to throw the election on his own. It was too weird.
He continually heaped fawning praise on Obama the whole campaign and he refused to say Obama's full name. Not only would McCain himself never say Barak Hussein, but he became livid at anyone who said 'Hussein'. Essentially, he banned his campaign and even his own supporters from saying Barak Hussein. He would not dare to even say his opponent's name. How screwed up is that!?
For whatever reason we may never know, McCain handed the election to Obama. Whether it was deliberate or just stupidity, the result was the same.