Here's how he put it: "That dynamic is this: People have decided that Obama is the guy who's offering real solutions for the economy; and they've rejected McCain's basic argument that Obama is unprepared for the gig of President. That has put McCain in an ever shrinking box: Anything he says that doesn't try to explain, in the most direct and substantive of terms, why his plans for the economy are better than Obama's come across as noise at best and stunts at worst. . . . [and tries] to avoid the subject that, judging by every poll, is foremost on the minds of voters right now."
Joe, the plumber, won't save him any more than Joe Sixpack. That was a carefully chosen talking point, hoping to trip Obama up in one spot of vulnerability in his economic plan. But it doesn't change the overall vast differences in McCain looking out for the big guys and Obama looking out for the little guys.
McCain's other big moment was to declare "I'm not George Bush. If you wanted to run against him you should have run four years ago." It was well-rehearsed and pithy, but so what? Can you imagine anyone thinking, "Oh, thank god, that obliterates all my worries about a third Bush term." It's sort of in the same category as his mantra "I know how to do it." "I know how to fix the economy." "I know how to catch Osama bin Laden." Trust me, I know how. Fine, John, why haven't you shared that knowledge before now?
My favorite line from the night's comments was from Alan Schroeder, professor of journalism at Northeastern University, who said:
"However much McCain gnawed at his heels, Obama blithely shook him off, reinforcing an already established aura of unflappability."
Ralph
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Obama warned supporters this morning not to get over-confident: Remember New Hampshire, he said.
And McCain has returned to his original core message: Obama doesn't have the experience or judgment to be president.
My guess is he knows he can't win and will go through the motions, but will now try to shore up his tarnished legacy.
It'll be interesting to see what Sarah does. Remember she didn't like it when he pulled out of Michigan. She sure won't like giving up now. "What about MY political future?"
And Arianna Huffington's comment on watching the split-screen images:
"It was like watching a split-screen double feature -- Grumpy Old Men and Cool Hand Luke."
Joe the Plumber has been interviewed, and acknowledged that he doesn't make anywhere near the $250,000 that would put him in the category of increased tax under the Obama plan. He's simply hoping for the future, and he doesn't like paying taxes, period.
So this is another political stunt from McCain; but he's going to try to exploit this man.
In fact, he's actually the kind of potential small business owner that Obama wants to help by lower taxes in order to get established, with the expectation that, when they become successful, they might have to pay back in higher taxes.
But look for the McCain camp to exploit this man as their new poster child (Sarah has sort of faded). But they'll have to distort the facts to do it.
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