The republicans are once again showing how its done. They pick a theme, and stick to it, and they always make the election a referendum on their opponent. Bush was president, but somehow 2004 was about Kerry.
They don't do it in secret -- the formula is readily apparent. They start negative ads in the summer and set the media narrative for the rest of the year. Kerry as a flip-flopper was a relentless message.
Now they are working to turn one of Obama's strengths -- his mass appeal and charisma - against him by labeling him a celebrity. But Obama has done nothing to define McCain/.
This election should not be a referendum on Obama or McCain -- the question before the American people is do you want four more years of George Bush's policies, or do you want change. Everything should be about this theme. Every statement, every ad, every other word, should be Bush.
I read that analysis of Obama's website showed that the most common word on the site is Obama. A similar study showed the most common word on McCain's site is Obama.
The most common word on Obama's site should be Bush.
It's not hard. McCain wants to continue the failed Bush economic policies. Do you want to stay the course, or do you want change.
McCain wants to continue Bush's arrogant, unilateral foreign policy. Do you want to stay the course, or do you want change.
McCain wants to continue Bush's policies in Iraq. Do you want to stay the course, or do you want change.
The closest I've seen Obama hit upon this winning theme was the ad that said we don't need another President who is in the back pocket of the oil companies. But every ad should have a picture of McCain with Bush, or McCain with Cheney.
People don't want change in the abstract, they want change FROM Bush -- drive that home. Every message, every talking point, every ad -- that's the theme, stick with it.
That's what the republicans would do.