Maybe this has been said before, but John McCain is the best rival Obama could have asked for.

[Bicoastal]

When you factor in John's irritability versus Barack's coolness, John's temper versus Barack's grace under fire, John's my-way-or-the-highway attitude versus Barack's teamwork approach, John's erratic nature versus Barack's consistency, and John's attack-first policy to Obama's dodge-then-jab-back strategy...

...it was a match made in political heaven. I think that Obama would have stood his ground against Huckabee and Romney, but McCain is really making the fight look pathetic at this junction.

[knowbody0]

1. mcPain is almost too pathetic to attack

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

10. Making fun of Grampy is, at this point

rather like "hunting dairy cows with a high-powered rifle and scope," as PJ O'Rourke once observed of fundies.

[Bryan]

2. Absolutely. It's almost eerie

especially in terms of biography (the self-made Obama vs. McCain, who's spent his adult life being eased into one cushy public-sector assignment after another), and appearance (vigor vs. old age and disease).

[Bicoastal]

5. I said it months ago--who better to take on a young black man...

...than the oldest, whitest dude they could find.

[wileedog]

3. Plus you got a guy who admitted he knows nothing about the economy

running during a financial meltdown.

No disrespect to Obama, but I think the Dems could have put up a potato at this point and at least won the Kerry states.

This would have been a much tougher election if Romney had been nominated, who at least has the reputation as knowing *something* about business, and certainly could claim more experience than Obama in the financial world.

[napi21]

4. I was thinking about that last night. What would this race have been

like if Romney had been their candidate? He already HAD the reputation of understanding economics, he's reasonably attractive, he would NEVER have chosen PALIN!!!, and when he speaks, he SOUNDS like he knows what he's talking about.

I'm not saying he doesn't lie as well or better than any other Pub, but he's much better at it than McNuts could ever hope to be!

Although I'm glad they chose McNuts, I really wonder how different things would be today if Mittens had been their nominee?

[Bicoastal]

6. It wasn't by accident, though. Romney was eliminated because of old fashioned GOP prejudices...

...not just about Mormonism, but about Massachusetts as well. And McCain was a "normal" Christian from a safe Red state, plenty of seniority and a war-hero record.

They chose on marketability instead of substance, pretty much.

[Bryan]

7. I thought Romney was a shoe-in for all those reasons

I really underestimated the fundie base's willingness to vote for a man who loves wenching and gambling over a Mormon.

I daresay it would have been a much closer race, as you say. Romney would have at least been able to get out in front of the crash and present himself as the sort of assured corporate figure that conservatives place so much faith in.

[Muttocracy]

9. ditto - Romney worried me the most. nt

[BeyondGeography]

8. Romney would have been tougher, but he also would have forced Obama to be more of a populist

which wouldn't have been all bad.

[remember2000forever]

11. Let's Hope The Stars And The Moon Are All Aliened For Us This Time Around!

God Knows. Mankind, The World Over, Needs A Leader Like Obama!

[ladjf]

12. I understand your point. However, the horrible hatred he has "ginned"

up will have a somewhat lasting effect. All in all, it has turned out to be the filthiest Presidential race in history.