Obama is going to fight back. He will fight back in a smart way..

[my3boyz]

I doubted that he would fight back prior to the convention. Then I liked the way he did not depend on others to attack McCain. It was more like they bolstered him up (well for the most part..Richardson and Kerry were pretty tough on McCain..loved it). Pundits thought Barack would be all nice and sweet. However, Barack came out swinging with FACTS! He did not come across as nasty but he did come across as tough. I would not comment on Palin if I was Barack. I would leave that to Biden or surrogates. I think if he took her on it would seem like they were equals and that he was running against her. Barack won the nomination and she was picked by McCain. She was not selected by the people so he should not even play along with her. He needs to keep going after McCain.

[Drunken Irishman]

1. I don't know why people continue to doubt Obama.

They've doubted him this entire campaign, going all the way back to the primaries. Yet whatever he's doing is working, because he hasn't really trailed McCain in this election cycle yet.

[regnaD kciN]

2. Don't use that as a test...

...because I'm fairly certain he'll be trailing McCain by the weekend. (It won't last, though.)

[Drunken Irishman]

3. Maybe...

Maybe not.

McCain will need a bigger bump from his convention than Obama got just to take the lead.

[VolcanoJen]

4. I'm not.

In fact, I think we'll end up right where we were a month ago... Obama ahead by 3-5 points. Obama's convention bounce will be negated by McCain's natural convention bounce, but it will be swallowed up by the Palin Doubt that is quite real. An entire nation is saying, collectively, "WTF?"

The nation isn't swallowing up the Caribou Barbie the way the media thinks we will. We're in no mood for fighting and culture wars; we want to solve problems and make our lives better. It's not 1968, it's not 1988. It's 2008 and things are freaking tough out here.

We're heading out of Convention Phase and into Debate Phase, followed by GOTV Phase. It's flying by, isn't it? I can't believe this historic election season is almost past us. I hope we're all ready to work like hell. Not much longer, now...

[Drunken Irishman]

6. I think you're right.

I expect Obama to lead by 3-5 points until the debates, then he'll get a bump, move up to a 10 point lead and hold that until a week before the election, when McCain makes up SOME ground, but loses the popular vote by 6 or so points.

[elkston]

5. That's what I say. Every little bump and people go crazy like Obama is losing it.

I say its Primary anger. If O wasn't your guy then you won't let it rest until the election is actually won.

Nobody is saying this is in the bag, we never have. Just to trust the captian and carry out our duties as foot soldiers (get out to vote, and spread the word the others).

[Drunken Irishman]

9. Yup. Two weeks ago Obama was done. Toast.

Now it's McCain is done. Toast.

People freak out at any dip in the polls and I don't understand why. McCain has never consistently held a lead in any poll. If he takes a lead, it's only for a day or two and then it reverts back to Obama. The fact is, his campaign works in statistical noise, that's it!

Palin may help in the short term, but I think in the long term, her pick will be comparable to Ferraro.

[casus belli]

7. "I'm sorry governor Palin has no respect for community organizers"

"but I make no apologies for my work on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged for whom the American dream is just out of reach"


Anything similar would make her look like a tool. I don't know who thought it was a good idea to diss community organizers while trying to embellish her thin resume, but for someone who said politicians should have a "servant's heart" in her speech, she seems to enjoy contradicting herself.

[BPAW]

11. I really like this...

But I would ignore Palin - she's a lightweight not worth the trouble. Focus on McCain.

Seems like a really good commercial. Have different community organizers - Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Men, Women, etc. - each play a part:

Narrator - "Why is it that Senator McCain has no respect for the thousands of community organizers who truly do put country first each and every day?"
Organizer #1 - "Some of us feed and clothe the hungry"
Organizer #2 - "Some of us help the unemployed find work"
Organizer #3 - "Some of us house the homeless"
...
Narrator wrap up - "Answer? Because Senator McCain embraces the same old tired politics we've seen for the last seven years. We salute all those people, across America, who help our fellow Americans in their pursuit of the American dream, and promise them that help is on the way".
Obama - Approval.

Or something like that.

[casus belli]

12. Really good idea...

I think a commercial that highlighted what community organizers do would be devastating to the McCain/Palin ticket. Particularly since the message they were trying to convey with that misguided oratory was that they were somehow more in touch with the average American.

[w13rd0]

8. The GOP would like NOTHING so much as having Barack...

...to directly go at Palin. What do you think that coded bullshit about "community organizers" was about? Don't be fooled. The GOP would pay top dollar to be able to frame it as "black man attacks white woman". And don't think they wouldn't go there, because they most certainly would. This whole thing has been stagecraft, cheap and tawdry stagecraft at best. And it demonstrates their utter and complete contempt for the voting public.

[Thom Servo]

10. Never doubt what Obama can do for our country. NEVER!

[OneGrassRoot]

13. He and especially Biden must be chomping at the bit...

for the debates.

Especially since Palin came out as a bulldog and not a victim (I really couldn't imagine her playing THAT card), she's fair game.

I. Can't. Wait. For. The. Debates.