John McCain is currently enjoying his largest lead over Barack Obama. The USA Today/Gallup poll shows him ten points ahead: 54-44, but that poll appears to be an outlier using likely voters instead of the more reliable registered voters. The daily Gallop poll from this past weekend also shows McCain with a slight lead over Obama: 48-44. Yes folks, John McCain is getting his bounce and we’ll need to wait until Tuesday to accurately determine the full scope of the GOP Convention bounce and the Sarah Palin factor. Strategically, the Sarah Palin audible was brilliant, it completely overshadowed Obama’s speech and since then, the media has been in a public swoon. McCain is also trying to co-op Obama change mantra while still throwing zingers at Obama’s experience.
So Senator, it’s your move and how do you plan to counter? Yes, I know that the polling data is skewed and does not represent the new media voters without landlines, but perception is reality with our fickle electorate. The low info voters will be bombarded with the republican talking points in the next eight weeks and if you are not careful, you will be Kerryized. You cannot ignore these repeated attacks or issue a tepid response. Unleash Biden, please.
You need to forcefully counter Gov. Palin and be ready for the sexism card and when they flash it, sharpen your attacks and accuse them of whining while working the media (refs). You cannot underestimate her appeal to the electorate and she needs to be destroyed, not by you directly but with the assistance of your surrogates. Hillary Clinton needs to be dispatched to attack Ms Secessionist and yes she will balk and may exact a heavy price but through back channels let her know that you fully intend to run again in 2012 and will blame her if you lose. Further, you will not support her candidacy if she doesn’t go after Palin. Yes you need to play hardball with the Clintons and use your favor card for granting all their demands during DNC Convention.
Push back on the media’s incessant "the surge worked" questions. It undermines the fact that you were right about the Iraq war, the Afghanistan surge, Iran, and the Iraqi timetable. Refuse to answer surge question unless they insist that the McCain camp and his surrogates acknowledge your wisdom on these other equally important decisions. McCain must be berated with questions about your good judgment on these matters and be forced to admit that you were right.
Please STOP praising McCain. We get it, he was a POW and a war hero, but understand that you are in the midst of the toughest political fight of your life and your opponent has competent surrogates who are handsomely paid to promote him While you continue to praise McCain, his camp undercuts you with harsh Rovian tactics.
The American people love a fighter and did you notice how many times McCain used the word "fight" in his boring speech? All I remember is: "I will fight, fight for you..." and you could be sure that low info voters heard it as well.