In basketball, there comes a time in every game when the coach has to decide if he should have his team press. "Press" means to extend the defense, apply pressure, take risks. It doesn't mean panic, although panic can influence your decision.
It's high risk, high reward. If you are comfortably ahead late in the game there is no reason to press. The decision is easy. On the other hand, if you are losing, or it's a close game, late, when you make the decision can be life or death. One thing for sure, it's almost always a game changer, one way or the other. We're approaching that time in the game.
What if President Obama can't beat Romney in a debate? In my view, Obama needs to drop the finesse game and get physical. Romney boxed out and crushed Obama on the boards during the first debate. Maybe that's just not Obama's game. Not having any refs didn't help.
Team Obama has a decision to make. There's about six minutes left in the game, maybe less. If the polls continue to drop, they'll have to make a choice. Keep trusting in the original plan and battle Romney on his terms hoping for the best. Or, take some risk before it's too late. The worse feeling in the world is to lose a game late because you were afraid to adjust.
I wouldn't wait much longer than after the next debate. If it's seen as a toss up, or god forbid, another Romney win, it's time to press. Don't wait. If Romney wants to move to the center (the etch-a-sketch trick right in front of our eyes), challenge him.
How? Pot. Exhibit some brass and admit what we're doing is obscene as well as wasteful. It's courageous and smart. It could put Tennessee in play.
And for a second punch, ask your operatives to start whispering about Romney's undergarments. The next time Team Romney brings up Obama's "war on religion," or the person hood of a fetus, drop the hammer. Frame it as SCIENCE, because it is. Mormonism is crazy, don't be afraid to treat it that way.
If Americans learned about Joseph Smith, they might have second thoughts. If President Obama wore a Spider Man costume under his suit because he believed it protected him, it would be an issue. And rightfully so. Romney really believes this non-sense about his under garments.
Do we want to win or not? We need to decide soon. Not to panic, yet. But the polls need to stop diving. Another few days could be too late. I'm afraid the paint is beginning to dry.
I suggest those as examples. I know they are risky. What else could we do to change momentum and not appear desperate? We have to win this election. The other side would steal it if they could. We need to use anything that works.