up and at 'im, john

John McCain needs to get much more aggressive. But not with Barack Obama.

As we enter the final stretch of the campaign, reports suggest that the McCain campaign is going to throw itself into the task of annihilating Obama's character in the eyes of the public, using whatever lies to hand. In fact, as Sarah Palin keeps alluding to Obama's "terrorist" connections we can assume this stage of the campaign is upon us. I don't think it will work.

There just isn't an awful lot to go on. There's William Ayers, 1960s militant, ex-small-time domestic terrorist, and now Chicago professor, who Obama had some dealings with in his home town. Now, Ayers sounds like a bit of a fool, but given that his most heinous actions were carried out when Obama was eight, and that he's now an upstanding member of society, I don't this is explosive, so to speak. Then there's Tony Rezko, the deeply dodgy Chicago property developer who funded Obama's campaigns and helped him find a house. Fair game - but the problem with this is that it doesn't fit a larger narrative about Obama: if he loses, it won't be because people think he's corrupt. As for the Reverend Wright, what's left to say? If there's one reason for Obama to be grateful that Clinton fought on as long as she did, it's that the answer to that is: not much.

Still, McCain is hinting he's going to unveil his new, tougher approach at tomorrow night's debate:

McCain hinted Thursday that a change is imminent, perhaps as soon as next week's debate. Asked at a Colorado town hall, "When are you going to take the gloves off?" the candidate grinned and replied, "How about Tuesday night?"

Now, I agree that McCain needs to do something to disrupt the equilibrium of this race, or he loses. But I think if he swings wildly at Obama he may end up punching himself - especially as one of his advisers was generous enough to provide Obama with the perfect comeback.

I think he should take the gloves off - but aim his punches at George W. Bush. The most game-changing thing he could do at this stage is tear into the current president at tomorrow night's debate - to unleash all of that animosity that's been building up inside him since he lost to Bush in 2000. McCain has been very wary of putting too much distance between himself and Bush, for fear of upsetting his base. But his caution has hurt him. Obama has found it easier than it should have been to tie McCain to the most unpopular president of modern times.

It's time for McCain to run as Bush's opponent. The base are going to have to look after themselves (they've got Sarah now anyway). If McCain doesn't do this, he will always rue the fact that he let George Bush beat him twice.

Comments

[Elemjay]

great observation - going after Bush would be a way to get all that negative energy out in the open but reduce the possibility for comebacks. Bet McCain won't do it though (for all he should)....

[Lyle]

Was that an intentional pun, that McCain;s campaign is trying to smear Obama with "whatever LIES to hand"? Geddit -- whatever is available (or near to hand) and whatever fabrications, misrepresentations, apocryphal rumours, etc (or lies) they can dredge up.