Republicans, unlike Democrats, have not had a track record of sharing their angst in print and in public. Rarely do they admit that the Democrats have an effective strategy.
Not this time. Obama's "he's erratic, just look at him" strategy is so effective, it's sparked this headline in the NY Times:
G.O.P. Officials Hope for Stability From McCain
This, about a guy who is running for President of the United States, in the midst of a financial crisis? Oy. Someone's lost the media cycle, and not just today, but for his career.
Well, the article talks to a number of nervous Republicans not associated with the campaign (a good thing, these days) who smell defeat. Part of the reason is that McCain, lurching from failed attack to failed attack, can't seem to figure out what to do. McCain's 'radical' charge doesn't work because Obama isn't (see the debates.) Obama's 'erratic' charge works because that's exactly what McCain is (see his campaign suspension, rallies, statements and interviews.)
Stephen Hayes, writing at the Weekly Standard, suggests
It is, in short, a campaign heavy on tactics and light on strategy. Three weeks out from the 2008 election and John McCain's campaign has no discernible central theme, no succinct answer to the most basic question voters ask as they consider their choice: Why should I choose you over the other guy?
but comes up with a potential answer.
By the end of the week, however, conversations with several McCain advisers indicated that the campaign may have settled on its closing argument. If they are successful, voters will enter polling stations with this thought in their head: Barack Obama cannot be trusted because he's done nothing and has consistently put his own political ambitions before his country's needs.
Of course, just like with his attack on Obama's experience, he's already completely undermined that attack line with his pick of an unvetted and unqualified Vice President.
Probe Finds Palin Abused Power in Case of Trooper
I have a feeling this isn't going to be the answer for McCain's polling woes, but I love that they'll not figure that out until after the election, when the minority party will devolve into outright civil war.