The Reason why Obama has not fully unloaded on McAnus is...

[JackORoses]

that if he demolishes him now, he could put the Repukes in check. But they will just sacrifice McCain and come up with a replacement pre-Convention.
McAnus is already teetering on the brink of rejection all by himself. Obama could push him over now, but then, not only would he have to work harder against an unknown adversary, he would lose the advantage of competing against an all-together deficient opponent.

If, however, Obama waits until the Repukes have hitched their Party's wagon to McCain,
he can act decisively, definitively reveal McAnus to the American Public, and leave the Repukes heading into the Election with damaged goods.
Checkmate.

[sniffa]

1. I'm not so sure

I think it will show extreme weakness on the R's part if that were to happen.

I think he's holding back for strategic reasons - to not give them time respond effectively.

[FARAFIELD]

7. I think its easier than that, he has responed with a lot of WIT

and OBAMAS "bit" is not hammering people which is much different than Kerry just ignorning it. I think about the votes OBAMA wants (people like my parents who are going to vote for him as it stands now), but would loathe to see him dump on McCain by staying above the fray he will become a much better president than if he comes in with brute force. Its a very smart strategic move, all powered by his personality.

[billyoc]

2. Unleash the avalanche after the conventions, leaving them reeling into Halloween.

There'll be nothing but a greedy spot left of them by election day.

[Phoonzang]

3. I hope your right

Because if he's not holding back and instead isn't demolishing McCain out of some altruistic notion...we're fucked.

[madaboutharry]

4. I think the Obama campaign is holding back.

I think they are going after him the minute the republican convention is over.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

5. That's what I think too. And I also suspect the Obama campaign doesn't mind the rumours

about him either.

Because they aren't true.


Come September, we are gonna see the best campaign ever fought.

Obama will crush McCain. And all these rumours about Obama will never come to pass.


But we have much to talk about when we present the real issues.





It's gonna be a good November for us.

[TheDonkey]

6. He needs to come out with attacks during the convention. Lets not have a 2004 repeat

when we were all hugs and smiles and had a modest bounce... the rethugs came out like raving lunatics of rage and got a monster bounce that lead them to victory.

We don't have to be as outrageous as them but let's make McClown an ISSUE.

[depakid]

8. That's as creative a rationalization as I've heard yet

Unfortunately, if McCain IS the nominee- the campaign will have missed its opportunity to set the narrative, and peoples' attitudes will have already become largely cemented.

[JackORoses]

11. c'mon, deepak, being the metaphysician you are, you should know that nothing is set in stone

[depakid]

14. Just looking at social science literature and applying well researched principles

to peoples' political and voting behaviors.

Once attitudes in frames and narratives become ingrained, it's very difficult to change them- no matter how many facts one presents.

One of the reasons for this is called "confirmation bias" or "hypothesis locking":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

Another involves the nature of how Americans deal with cognitive dissonance:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance

[Whisp]

9. Mc could still fake ill health or something and a replacement

would have to be put in anyway, even after the convention.

i like your post and agree for the most part

but these people are as low as anything I've seen.

[smoogatz]

10. Nah.

The reason he hasn't gone negative is that a)he's leading and b) he can't, at least without looking like a hypocrite. McCain's trailing, so he has to take that chance.

But yeah, I think Obama's saving the big guns until the conventions--not because the Repubes would replace McCain (how would that work?), but because that's the real beginning of the election season; most people don't really pay attention until then. Look for lots more ads comparing McCain to Bush. Look for lots of ads showing McCain's gaffes and confusion, with banners that say "is McCain ready to lead?"

[NYC_SKP]

12. No, the reason is short attention spans.

He's gotta go nuclear within 5-10 days of the election, with a some escalating between now and then (to manage absentee voters).

Why? Because people don't pay attention long enough for attacks now to last long enough to matter.

Sure, they hurt but aren't fatal, Obama needs to "manage" attacks on him, to try to keep them honest, but right now Hawai'i is the best medicine.

He's not going to fire his best shots now, it's waaaay to early.

:patriot:

[showmemo]

13. Need to worry about the PUMA'S first

There seems to be an odd feeling that the Clintoon's have something planned for Denver.

I don't think we can look past Denver until its over.

Bill's comment about being constitutionally qualified makes me think this Birth Certificate issue or Kenyan issue is going to the foor.

Bill has been spending a lot of time in Africa. His interview last week was from that part of the world. Rumors are swirling around and he makes that kind of comment. Is he for party Unity or is he a PUMA?

[Major Hogwash]

15. I agree. He's waiting for the GOP to certify McCain as their nominee.

Because McCain is definitely certifiable!

Only then will Obama open up a can of whoopass on him.

We all witnessed the "bait and switch" tactics of the Bush campaign in 2004, when he would say things that he was going to do and never did, made promises he never kept.

McCain is even worse.
He's totally reversed himself on many, many different issues.
As long as McCain keeps saying that he is just "giving us the straight talk" and then dissing farmers in Iowa, we should lay low and let him shoot himself in the foot.

Rule #1 of politics, never interrupt your opponent when he is self-destructing!

[opihimoimoi]

16. I love it...McAnus....he is an asshole.....

[kristyt]

17. I think McCain Teetering May well Explain 2 weeks ago

The worst week in American political history. McCain had one stupid, negative ad out after another all week.

But if McCain were really in trouble he would have picked his VP already.

Granted, I don't hink McSame really has much of a shot, but I don't think he's in much danger of being pulled from the ticket.