John McCain gave a speech this morning in an attempt to re-boot his campaign. There wasn't any new content, and I don't want to get into the particulars of the speech, because that isn't the point of this diary. It also wasn't the point of his speech.
McCain's speech was about changing the subject again. He needed to get past the unrelenting negativity of his campaign for the last 10 days. Equally, if not more important, he needed to give the press something to talk about on Monday morning so Sarah Palin's violation of Alaska's ethics law would be buried. We shouldn't let him off so easily.
With only 22 days until the election, Obama can run up the score and run out the clock simultaneously. If, for even one day, the press focuses on Palin's ethics issues instead of McCain's attempted comeback, it would be a successful day in the run out the clock half of the strategy.
With all eyes on the economic crisis, Obama and his surrogates should be talking about positive change instead of their opponent's running mate. However, leaders on the subject of ethics (from the political, legal, and education stages) should be speaking out in outrage over Palin and her response to the charges made against her. They should be asking, "Why isn't John McCain, the reformer, outraged over this?"
The assault should be worthy of national media attention, and it should continue until McCain himself either defends Palin or is forced to replace her.
I don't pretend to know how to make this happen, but I know that if it did happen it would make McCain play defense for a few days and run down the clock even while Obama makes positive strides on the issues.