John McCain's campaign is slipping, but don't count him out yet; in his lifetime McCain has been known, if for nothing else, than his ability to make a comeback.
McCain and Sarah Palin love to bounce between scare tactics and contradictions. One minute, if Barack Obama gets elected then it is mandatory abortions for everyone. The next minute, Obama is, according to McCain, "a decent family man, a citizen who I just happen to have serious differences with on fundamental questions."McCain is OK with someone his vice president has called a terrorist getting elected.
McCain is playing politics with the backing of a confused campaign. With so many supporters despite eight years of George W. Bush and a poorly organized camp dragging him down, the fact that McCain is even in contention at this point really speaks to something; Party polarization has a miraculous impact on elections.
Bush was behind and ended up making a comeback - twice. McCain's crazy campaign just might suit him. Picking Palin as his running mate, as random as it may have been, may still work to his advantage. He can't control anyone in his campaign and, despite his "maverick status," he doesn't have the charisma of Obama.
But who knows what'll happen when the curtain closes and it's time to pull the lever? The fears and doubts of Americans about Obama may sway enough people away from his camp and into McCain country.
The Bush campaign played off of the fears of Americans during the 2000 and 2004 elections. Knowledgeable audiences were not their targets- uninformed voters gave them the Full house on Election Day. And though McCain has no more cards to play with, he could still come out with the better hand in November.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
