The latest unconvincing Palin defense

In tomorrow's New York Times, David Brooks writes:

When McCain met Sarah Palin last February, he was meeting the rarest of creatures, an American politician who sees the world as he does. […] Sarah Barracuda was picked because she lit up every pattern in McCain’s brain, because she seems so much like himself.

Here's my question: If John McCain had truly seen his political soulmate and electoral running mate in Sarah Palin last February, then why did he not talk with her again for six months?