HAS THE CAMPAIGN BEEN TOO MUCH FOR McCAIN?

McCain's backtrack on what he meant by economic "fundamentals" seemed incoherent and perhaps the rigors of the campaign are taking their toll on a man who is 72 years old. Via Atrios, I learn that McCain seemed befuddled during an interview with a Spanish journalist:

John McCain just forget where Spain was. Seriously, not kidding.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
John Aravosis (DC) · 9/17/2008 11:33:00 PM ET · Link

We may have the first evidence, on tape, that McCain's age, or illness, or both are catching up with him and he's losing his mental faculties.Per a post on Josh Marshall's site, I just listened to an interview John McCain did with a Spanish journalist recently. The interview is in English, but there's a Spanish translator translating the tape into Spanish at the same time.

Namely, that John McCain didn't appear to know that Spain was in Europe, or that the leader of Spain was named Zapatero. This, after the interviewer told him, and I paraphrase, "Okay let's switch to Spain - would you be willing to meet with the head of our government, Mr. Zapatero." McCain then launched into this weird discussion about how friends of America are welcome, but enemies of America are not, and then he starts talking about Mexico. The reporter, obviously sensing something weird, asks him again, and again, would you be willing to meet with our president. McCain again talks about America's enemies. Finally, she says, and again I paraphrase, "Senator, I'm talking about here in Europe, in Spain, would you be willing to talk to our leader?" And McCain AGAIN starts rambling about America's enemies.