If the Dems have any sense, they need to be building a huge database of everything McCain has been saying, so they can shove it in his face when he tries to tack back to the left after the convention...

'IF'? We're there. And given that a real economy [1] rebound takes a year or two or three, the GOP will have to conduct a campaign during a recession. With a candidate who's clear attitude is 'f*ck you - get a lobbyist to give you some money'.

-Barry

[1] by 'real economy', I mean for 90% of people - job, wages, etc. Economists like to proclaim that a recovery started when the economy bottomed out, which makes as much sense for most people's situation as proclaiming that spring starts on Dec 22, because the days are getting longer.

True, but the more I look at the dynamics of the election, the more it looks like 1992: old codger with no real interest in domestic issues facing young upstart during a time of economic uncertainty.

If the economy lapses into a recession, I am not sure how McCain can effectively respond.

Personally, I think that his comments about caring about the economy are going to be a much worse albatross than even the "100 years in Iraq" quote. I just think having a President who is kind of blase' about the economy is not going to be attractive for independents. The thought of a "War Presidency" seems to only be exciting to a President and those who really like war, which I would put in the vast minority.

Back in the day, I said Hillary's main weakness as a candidate is that she's too polarizing - people either love her or despise her, regardless of party lines. She had a brief window at the beginning where she could have proven me wrong, but she's clearly decided that winning is more important than staying out of the GOP's dirty tricks bag

McCain's Senate career has been concentrated mostly in the foreign and military policy arenas; not a lot of legislation is going to come of that. He did do the anti-torture bill.

True, but the more I look at the dynamics of the election, the more it looks like 1992: old codger with no real interest in domestic issues facing young upstart during a time of economic uncertainty.

If the economy lapses into a recession, I am not sure how McCain can effectively respond.

What I think that McCain needs to do is to look presidential. . .

That's pretty funny.

Additionally, it will allow Obama to raise the question about why McCain hasn't accomplished a whole lot in his decades as a Senator.

McCain's Senate career has been concentrated mostly in the foreign and military policy arenas; not a lot of legislation is going to come of that. He did do the anti-torture bill.

How about play up McCain's years of experience versus Obama's lack of experience. Detail the differences in domestic spending priorities and tax policy. Like Dave S. says use foreign policy as a defining trait for each candidate.

Hollow rhetoric may excite the college kids and old hippies but real policy stances and a solid platform of governing principles will excite those who vote.

This is McCain’s biggest strength and his biggest weakness. Emphasizing experience draws attention to age, not to mention the votes which can be used against him.

Additionally, it will allow Obama to raise the question about why McCain hasn't accomplished a whole lot in his decades as a Senator. Other than McCain-Feingold (which much of the Republican base hates) McCain's only real claim to fame has been his tragic and unfortunate experience as a POW. Outside of campaign finance his Senate accomplishments are pretty much limited to shilling for his campaign contributors like the crook Charles Keating and Paxon.

Since the "war" meme is basically all McCain has to run on, it is going to be a hard road to travel. Even though violence is down in Iraq (thanks to the successful displacement of millions of Iraqis), voters at this point are "war weary."

"Change" is the mantra and Hussein has the corner on that market.

What I think that McCain needs to do are to look presidential, stay to the high road, paint an optimistic picture of America's future and the future of the American people, and turn the discussion to foreign policy and the military as much as possible.

Obama is weak on both of those issues—his having Jimmy Carter's foreign policy advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, as a foreign policy advisor is an enormous aid to reinforcing the notion that he's weak. Link Obama to Carter's foreign policy failures.