In the south when "Bless her little heart" comes out it usually means they think what they think of the person is they are not too bright. When I hear 'My friends" I get the same feeling, that I am being taken as not too bright but listen I know better.

As a Southerner, I have to concur.

That's because most of the times you've heard it, it was somebody trying to sell you some useless crap or other -- it's standard ecole de Paul Harvey hucksterism.

McCain's being coached. His speech coach is trying to slow him down, make him less conversational, better at extending the sound bite.

Beyond that, maybe McCain likes to think he has freinds. maybe he thought the reporters he got palsy walsy with in the back of the Straight Talk Express were actually His Friends.

So you got your choice: he's either manipulative, and not real smooth at it yet, or he's not too bright and mildly delusional. I go for all the above, but your choice is your own.