Charlie Black, an adviser to John McCain told Fortune magazine that the assassination of Benazhir Bhutto in December helped McCain, and that another terror attack in the US would too:
The assassination was an "unfortunate event... "But his knowledge and ability to talk about it re-emphasized that this is the guy who’s ready to be commander in chief. And it helped us.”
Then, the article paraphrases Black: "As would, Black concedes with startling candor after we raise the issue, another terrorist attack on U.S. soil.‘Certainly it would be a big advantage to him,’ says Black"
http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/20/magazines/fortune/Evolution_McCain_Whitford.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008062314
Here, Black "apologizes"
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/mccain-adviser-apologizes-for-terrorism-remark/
Actually, we should thank him for revealing what certain people may be thinking about.