McCain's got us right where he wants us. In the wake of Powell's ringing support for the Democratic nominee and Obama's staggering fundraising totals, he's brimming with confidence. Brace yourself as we enter the twilight zone:
McCain, despite trailing in opinion polls and fundraising, said he still expects to win the Nov. 4 election and could sense "things are heading our way."
My friends,
"We're very happy with the way the campaign is going," McCain said on the "Fox News Sunday" program. "I've been on enough campaigns, my friend, to sense enthusiasm and momentum, and we've got it."
On McCain's planet, the 632,000 plus Americans who donated to Obama's campaign in September comprised a small group of desperate bitter enders. The same, of course, applies to the hundreds of thousands of supporters at Obama's rallies this past weekend. To McCain's campaign, they are in their last throes, as are those recent, high-profile Republican converts (e.g., Smerconish, Buckley Jr., Powell just to name a few). Because McCain's the one who has momentum.
From the other side of his mouth, McCain touts his role as the underdog. You see, another reason behind McCain's confidence is that he flourishes in the role of floundering loser:
"I love being the underdog. You know, every time that I've gotten ahead, somehow I've messed it up," the Republican candidate said.
Not only that, but, apparently, the Palin VP debacle—one of the driving forces behind his total collapse in support among thinking conservatives—is great news...FOR JOHN MCCAIN! CNN reports:
Asked if Gov. Sarah Palin has become a drag on his ticket, McCain said, "As a cold political calculation, I could not be more pleased."
Awww, come on, John McCain. Surely you can pour it on thicker than that?
"She has excited and energized our base. She is a direct counterpoint to the liberal feminist agenda for America. She has a wonderful family. She's a reformer. She's a conservative. She's the best thing that could have happened to my campaign and to America,"
Touché.
But what about the Powell endorsement, which seemed like devastating news for McCain, you ask? According to McCain's friends, Powell just wants to curry favor with the Georgetown Cocktail Crowd:
"Powell cares a lot about his reputation with Washington elites, and he thinks he was badly damaged by his relationship with the Bush administration," said the source. "So this is a way to make up for what he regarded as not being treated well by the Bush administration, not being given the due deference he thinks he deserves."
Of course he does, unnamed source. Of course he does.
Yesterday, McCain revealed another origin for his glimmering optimism: the potential for Obama to succumb to You-Kicked-My-Ass-In-Fundraising Gate.
John McCain suggested that his Democratic rival Barack Obama’s record-shattering fundraising haul will lead to scandal in their presidential race and future races, and he hinted that there may already be funny business going on with Obama’s legions of small donors.
So are these, indeed, signs of "Great News! FOR JOHN MCCAIN!"? According to most of today's headlines, only in McCain's alternate reality. Some relevant stories include:
1. AP/AFP: McCain struggles.
Anxiety over the teetering US economy, uncertainty over the wisdom of Mr McCain's choice of Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, and the Republicans' vicious character attacks against Mr Obama in the last month have all been cited as possible reasons for Mr McCain's drop in the polls.
2. NYTimes: McCain caught yesterday proposing to spread the wealth.
"I’m going to spend a lot of money to bring relief to you," Mr. McCain pledged to cheers at a rally here Sunday, just a few minutes after criticizing Mr. Obama for wanting to "spread the wealth around."
3. Newsday: Red states slip from GOP grip.
Add Indiana to the long list of Republican states up in play this year - and it explains why McCain's White House hopes are fast disappearing, leaving his campaign desperate for some last-minute break that snaps Barack Obama's momentum.
4. USA Today: Obama raises tons of cash and earns the campaign's most coveted endorsement.
5. Sunday edition of Hardball: Joan Walsh, of Salon, observed
There are so many Michelle Bachmans in this campaign.
6. AP: Obama's newpaper endorsements swamp McCain.
7. Miami Herald: Busy day expected as early voting begins in Florida.
8.Reuters: Ailing US economy may cost Republicans big.
Fear and anger about the U.S. economy may cost the Republicans big-time in next month's election -- and give Democrats a 60-seat majority in the 100-member U.S. Senate for the first time 30 years.