From The Road
August 20, 2008 9:59 PM

Obama Shifts To Offense

By
Dean Reynolds
Topics
Barack Obama
(CBS)
From CBS News' Dean Reynolds:

(LYNCHBURG, VA.) - Back on the road with Barack Obama in Virginia, one senses an immediate shift to offense.

The new and feistier McCain camp seems to have landed several blows that knocked the Illinois senator off-message and off-stride.

Instead of hammering McCain as the heir to the Bush administration's legacy, Obama had been dwelling on the Republican insinuations that he is a shallow celebrity who gives big speeches to large witless crowds.

But this week, Obama is in a fighting mood, repeatedly charging that on issues which matter to Americans, McCain "just doesn't get it."

This is not to say that the 71-year-old Arizona senator is too old to "get it," but the whiff is there for anyone who's willing to take the scent.

For Obama, the shift comes at a time when polls, including our new CBS News sampling, are turning up for McCain. In other words, Obama seems to be listening to the importunings of party stalwarts who said he was playing a punching bag poorly.

Whether he's responding quickly enough or not, the poll has some very bad news for Obama.

Large majorities find mccain potentially very effective as commander in chief. At a time of two wars, that could be huge for the Republicans.

That's probably why Obama is talking more about the economy and trying to make this election about the Bush record and McCain's support for Bush's policies. The last thing Obama needs is to have this race become a referendum on him.

But McCain may overplay his hand. On Wednesday, while lambasting Obama's judgment -- never his patriotism, he insisted -- McCain said Obama was counseling retreat in Iraq "even today with victory in sight."

While victory in Iraq specifically and the war on terror more broadly is every American's wish, I think few would go as far as McCcain in saying it was now "in sight."

Anyone who has spent any time in the Middle East can tell you that "victory" often turns out to be a mirage.

It is something a man of McCain's experience must know.

  • Dean Reynolds

    Dean Reynolds is a CBS News National Correspondent based in Chicago.

Add a Comment See all 22 Comments
by stuartfinlay August 22, 2008 10:02 AM EDT
It is interesting that the comparison with Churchill regular comes up when McCain''s age is mentioned. I know a fair bit about Churchill having done a great deal of research for my book What Would Churchill Do?-Business advice from the man who saved the world, as I live in England my knowledge of John McCain is very limited.
The first obvious comparison is age at 71 McCain is 6 years older than Churchill was at the outbreak of war, but as Churchill said himself, one of the reasons why he was so successful at managing the war was because his experience had been EARNED, NOT LEARNED, so it could be that the knowledge and experience McCain has gained through his life could be to the advantage of the American people over a younger candidate.
The secret to Churchill''s success in the war was the fact that he got involved with everything and put his own stamp on how things should be done. Whilst people often quote how Churchill inspired Britain with his speeches and courage, which is certainly true, it was his practical decision making, tough leadership and attention to detail that made the real difference.
If John McCain has these qualities along with his proven courage and experience then he might be good for America.
Reply to this comment
by engymass2 August 21, 2008 5:43 PM EDT
I wonder why so many of the same people that are pro-life (Republicans) also support the death-penalty (Republicans) ???
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 August 21, 2008 3:00 PM EDT
Americans need to evaluate what their own personal issues are and vote in favor of their own better interests.

The Republicans offer little in the way of positive policy to the advantage of the average American Worker.

No Health Care
Pollution
High Energy and Fuel Prices
Jobs shifted to over seas labor
Further cuts in maintaining our infrastructure like roads, bridges, levees, schools, police, fire, and emergency medical.
Tax breaks to the already Wealthy with no breaks to the over taxed working class
Further perks to Major Corporations and Swindles in the Free Market to trap average consumers with no regulated protections
Corruption and mismanaged Federal Treasury Funds

And, PERPETUAL MILITARY CONFLICTS AND WARS.

John McCain is resorting to mere smear campaigning and swift boat tactics to obscure his real plan against the majority of Americans.


Vote for you own better interests, vote against the Conservative Agenda.


Reply to this comment
by dnsallday August 21, 2008 1:21 PM EDT
hey truthmatterz, McCain is not a war monger but a man with a vision for winning our war on terror.

It''''s going to take commitment and time to find the likes of Bin Laden and his henchmen.

Posted by bswalker12

*************************************
It is pretty clear you are a 12 year old who gets her news from cheap lounge acts.
You won''t be around after school starts up.
Reply to this comment
by dnsallday August 21, 2008 12:38 PM EDT
Old age is a CHEAP SHOT people with no substance take at McCain when they have nothing else on him. Posted by ForeverTru at 02:08 AM : Aug 21, 2008
****************************************
I agree, it isn''t McCain''s age that is the problem, it is his dangerous and reckless attitude towards killing other people.
Reply to this comment
by dnsallday August 21, 2008 12:37 PM EDT
It''s too bad, we will now have less time spent on coming up with ideas on how best to tackle all the problems that are cropping up as the Conservatives Chickens are all coming home to roost and all Americans are having to pay for the greed of the few.

I am a little surprised to see that McCain is so willing to give up whatever integrity he had in his quest to be all powerful. I%u2019ve watched him tell lie after lie to our faces and then when held accountable he simply denies he ever said it. (He still doesn%u2019t know that in 2008, this stuff is all on video??).

So I have accepted that he will be just like the other Bush who never gave a fig about Americans either.

I still find myself wondering why the people who support McCain hate Americans so much.

They seem eager to expose themselves as ignorant people by spreading false, nasty and vile smears and then think that we are going to accept what they say?

Why such a lack of respect for fellow Americans?

What%u2019s in it for you?

How do you feel you have benefited from the 8 years of George Bush, that you are so willing to basically work for the Bush re-election campaign by spreading smears and lying about Obama in order to push McCain?

What is it about people who vote Republican, that honesty and integrity are not important values to you?

Do you raise your children to lie and cheat to obtain their goals, as well?
Reply to this comment
by bragging8 August 21, 2008 5:55 AM EDT
ForeverTru
What makes you think I''m the racist?
Reply to this comment
by forevertru-2009 August 21, 2008 5:46 AM EDT
bragging8,

Sounds to me like YOU''RE the Racist.
Reply to this comment
by bragging8 August 21, 2008 5:34 AM EDT
Most folks will vote Mcsame not because of his vision or ideas about how to make America competitive again but only because he is caucasian! how pathetic few Americans can be! 4 more years of Mcain and I gurantee you will be doing odd jobs in China because there wont be any economic power in the USA. MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA and PUNISH all racists of all colors!!!
Reply to this comment
by bragging8 August 21, 2008 5:27 AM EDT
Bwalker 12 talks about saddleback nightmare! where the Reps cheated again!
Reply to this comment
See all 22 Comments
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