McCain clearly doesn't like Trump (to put it mildly), but we have to remember that McCain represents a state with a hell of a lot of retirees. Lots of old people in AZ. Health care is a big deal. He can't just pull out the rug from under them.

There are also many native Americans in AZ. The Navajo Nation alone is huge.

And, let's face it, given his personal circumstances, re-election isn't on his mind. I'd like to think he was motivated to do what is right, but this is McCain.

He and AZ gov had been working closely on healthcare and had amendments & ideas, as did other Republicans. They were dismayed that bills were crafted (and sometimes not even put in writing!) without carefully drafting it and voting on provisions and amendments by ALL the Senators, particularly the Republicans. He said he thought he and several others had good ideas that even some Dems would go for, and that they could put together a decent bill, which this skinny repeal was not.

... but McCain has been trash-talking this bill for a long time.
He finally grew a pair and voted against the party, and that's a huge step for him.

He might be motivated to get revenge against Trump, but this move is really hurting McConnell more than Trump.
So, either way, we owe him thanks.

(Apologies for that clumsy sentence.)

And even if not, his voting against it moving forward combined with last night's vote would never have triggered my suspicion. However, the GOP rarely seems motivated by anything other than greed and control, and taking things away from people, thus my suspicion

...it would have allowed the GOPee to put together another attempt later. As it played out, it's dead. For this year. There may be ways to attach parts to other bills, but this whole-hog plan is shot.

Like Lindsey Graham. I believe they held off so McCain could deliver the final nail.

into the gutter. I really believe he does not want to be remembered for that.

He did run from president, and he had no past with frump, and he knows he's expected to be the savior, So, combined with the insatiable ego, his move does not surprise me at all.

He has been around long enough to know that frump is a blip on the history screen, and will ultimately tarnish the republican brand if the protests continue, and they would had they tossed OBamacare.