And McCain won. How improbable that seems, when you look back and recall how pundits (including me!) opined on McCain’s chances last summer. It just goes to show you the truth of one of Fred Barnes’s political maxims: The future in politics is never a straight-line projection from the present. Speaking of which: As Bob Novak reported earlier this week, it was the Clintons’ intention that the Democratic race would be over by February 6, 2008. Media speculated that the GOP would be holding a “brokered convention” in the Twin Cities in August. Now the Democrats are split. Maybe those who think the Democrats are a lock to win in November should think again.