I'd go with "Crotchety"

John McCain's name was once synonymous with independent thinking and a maverick style. But when the Pew research center asked people to use a word to describe McCain, "maverick" was not among the top 10 answers.

That was unthinkable just a few years ago. But McCain sacrificed his well earned reputation to cozy up to the Republican establishment in an effort to grab his party's nomination.

After eight years of morphing into Bush- light, McCain is now trying to reclaim his maverick label-- witnessed by his recent statement that "real change will come no matter who is elected" president.

The words voters closely associate with McCain? In order they are:

"Old," "honest," "experienced," "patriot," "conservative" and a dozen more. The words "independent," "change" or "reformer" weren't among them.