McCain-Palin Can Still Catch Up

Weekly Standard: McCain Camp Still Has Time To Close The Gap, But They Must Attack - Ideology & Character Are Legit Issues

(Weekly Standard)  This column was written by William Kristol.

The odds are against John McCain and Sarah Palin winning this election. It's not easy to make up a 6-point deficit in the last four weeks. But it can be done.
Look at history. The Gore-Lieberman ticket gained about 6 points in the final two weeks of the 2000 campaign. Ford-Dole came back more than 20 points in less than two months in the fall of 1976. Both tickets were from the party holding the White House, and both were running against inexperienced, and arguably risky, opponents.

What's more, this year's race has already--twice--moved by more than 6 points over a span of only a few weeks. The race went from McCain up 2 (these are the Real Clear Politics averages) on September 14 to Obama plus 6 on October 2, less than three weeks later. In the four weeks before that, the race had moved from Obama plus 5 on August 12 to McCain plus 2 on September 12.

So while there's reason for McCain-Palin supporters to worry, there's no reason to despair.

Despair is what the Obama campaign is hoping and working for. If a campaign can convince supporters of the other candidate that the race is effectively over, the enthusiasm and volunteer efforts drop off--as does, ultimately, their turnout on Election Day. Just as important, undecided and loosely affiliated voters become persuaded there's no real contest and lose any incentive to look closely at the candidates. This explains the efforts of the Obama campaign--aided by a colluding media--to sell the notion that the race is over, that McCain supporters should give up, and undecided voters should tune out.

That's why the events at the end of last week were so important.
On Thursday night, Sarah Palin more than held her own in the vice-presidential debate against Joe Biden. She may well have stopped the McCain campaign's slide and, with her assaults on Obama's tax-and-spend liberalism and his willingness to lose in Iraq, set up McCain for a strong performance in Tuesday night's debate.

On Friday, enough House Republicans came around to pass the $700 billion financial bailout. It's no magic bullet, either in terms of the economy or the McCain campaign. But it gives both a chance.

McCain's decline in the second half of September is easily explained. A huge financial crisis coming to a head less than two months before Election Day is going to hurt the candidate of the incumbent party. The situation was made worse by the perception that not only was a Republican administration presiding over a financial meltdown, but congressmen from the same party were obstructing efforts to deal with it.

McCain's decision to come back to Washington to try to work out a deal was therefore sensible. While the Bush administration and the congressional Republicans were squabbling and Rome burned, McCain had no chance. Now there is a deal, and the political bleeding may have been staunched. McCain can go on the offensive for the final weeks.

But what kind of offensive?

The positive component is pretty straightforward: McCain and Palin are common sense conservatives and proven reformers. The record of reform can be emphasized and contrasted with Obama's and Biden's record of conventional, go-along, get-along liberalism. And implicitly: If McCain and Palin are reformers and outsiders, it's not Bush's third term. More important is the negative message. The McCain campaign has to convince 51 percent of the voters they can't trust Barack Obama to be our next president. This has an ideological component and a character component.

Character is a legitimate issue. Obama hasn't shown much in the way of leadership or political courage, and he's consorted with dubious figures. It's fair to ask whether Barack Obama is personally trustworthy enough to be president, and the McCain campaign shouldn't be intimidated from going there.

But one shouldn't underestimate the ideological issue, and the potency of the fact that Obama and Biden are orthodox liberals. They're for raising taxes, federally funding abortions, naming activist judges, and losing wars. The American people may think--they do think--the country's on the wrong track, that the Bush administration has made too many mistakes and that the Republican party's no great shakes. But they haven't suddenly become liberals. And they probably aren't crazy about the prospect of a liberal administration governing unchecked, hand in hand with a liberal Congress. During the next four weeks, the McCain-Palin campaign should make this risky prospect vivid.

[noloyalisti]

Let''s hope the Weakly is dead wrong. The last thing we need is 4 more years of the McSame. Or the bimbo as pResident. I know the Weakly like corporate welfare but the people of the US CANNOT AFFORD the Government of Pigs (GOP) any longer.

[jsilver2th]

I am surprised Mr. Kristol would give up hir moral high ground and urge an attack on character- sound like he''s willing to check his character at the door to beat on the drums of racism and hatred.

While is claim that voters "haven''t suddenly become liberals" they may have suddenly become poor.

Also, weren''t all the Conservative screaming at the top of their lungs a few months back that McCain was too liberal for them- and Ron Paul still is.

The Weekly Standard should change it''s name to the Weekly Sub-Standard after this endorsement of tar and feather.

[d33pthroat1]

"Oh, Bill Kristol, Are You Ever Right?

Ignore this son of a neo-con!

[ramos937]

William Kristol is an extreme right wing columnist who is quite the opposite of unbasised. It shows in all of his political writings.

[rational_1]

William Kristol is an extreme right wing columnist who is quite the opposite of unbasised. It shows in all of his political writings.
Posted by ramos937 at 07:38 PM : Oct 06, 2008

And this is news to you? Every columnist you read is biased one way or another, most favouring Obama. I think Kristol''s advice to the McCain is probably right on the mark - make the citizenry carefully consider just who they are electing and to second-guess themselves if they''re leaning towards Obama. Obama''s camp is doing the same (eg. linking McCain to Keating). Politics as usual as Rome burns.

[tomjustice-2009]

Since when is exposing your opponents past personal relationships and unethical dealings off limits? I need but remind you of Franklin Rains, Freddie Mac, Reverend Wright, Bill Ayers, Tony Rezko, Louis Farrakahn, just to name a few. Are you not curious about why Obama and Farraakhan visited Omar Kaddafi together? And,why Farrakhan was named Man of the Year in Rev. Wright''s church. Don''t you wonder how Obama could have sat for twenty years in the front row of Rev. Wright''s lunatic church saying Amen when Wright ranted that the US government invented AIDS to kill off black people.There is just too much that you libs are ignoring about this guy''s past. And before you remind me of the Keating 5, be aware that the other four were Democrats. I am not enamored with McCain, but he for sure is not a stealth Muslem.

[imnho]

I think that William Kristol and good character. Thats a contradiction in terms.

The truth of the matter is that if Obama get get a draw in the next two debates he will win.

[samthetvcat]

---"But one shouldn''t underestimate the ideological issue, and the potency of the fact that Obama and Biden are orthodox liberals."---

This race is over - technically there''s still time to turn it around IF Republicans were to shift out of their ideological ridigity. Because all other things being equal a lot of people would LIKE to see a guy who sacrificed 5 years of his life for his country with 25 years of experience in the Senate win.

But all other things aren''t equal - a lot of Republicans are contemptuous of those who struggle as much as a lot of Dems are contemptuous of those who don''t. McCain comes across as contemptuous of those who struggle, talking about wanting to reward those who work hard as if unemployment isn''t part of the equation. Tax cuts don''t help if one''s plant has just been shut down because nobody''s buying cars right now and you''re out of a job.

People are panicked, they''re suffering and they''re desperate. People who have never in their lives voted Democratic are clinging to the platform like it''s a lifeline. Nobody cares about the history of the person throwing the lifeline when it''s their lives on the line - they only see the lifeline.

McCain''s not throwing any lifelines - McCain''s going to lose. Game over.

[jerr11]

Roll out the swiftboaters.

And how about those Harold Ford ads.

In the meantime, on Main Street, it''s mayhem at the stock market.

Country First?

More like McCorpse/Failin First!!

[samthetvcat]

PS Oh and you know what else makes that comment about rewarding those who work hard so much more obscene is that the person McCain''s rewarding the most under his tax cut plan - his wife - isn''t making her cash from working hard. And the people who ARE working hard in the middle class are being offered a more substantial tax cut under the Dem plan.

I mean that kind of policy people justifiably view as a reflection of McCain''s true level of respect for them, don''t you think?

[toby2957]

William Kristol is not a journalist, he''s a propoganda artist. This is not reporting, it is simple religious ideological drivel in place of facts and substance.

[dennisam01]

When I saw the headline I was thinking to myself really someone really thinks McCain still has a chance . THEN I saw who wrote the article and a smile cracked on my face then I started to laugh because this PUNDIT is ALWAYS WRONG I mean it just check out anything he has written and I bet at about a 4 to 1 clip he''s WRONG on everything. If you or I was as wrong as much as he is we''d be fired from our jobs picture a baseball player hitting .100 or a basketball player hitting 20% from the line . You would NOT want him as your stockbroker. Bill Kristol is a neocon moron I''d sooner take political advice from Billy Crystal then Bill Kristol this is a consider the source article and if you do I think you''ll do the same as I did, Laugh!!!!!!! you butt off. And take comfort in how much he''s WRONG .

[samthetvcat]

---"Bill Kristol is a neocon moron I''d sooner take political advice from Billy Crystal then Bill Kristol this is a consider the source article and if you do I think you''ll do the same as I did, Laugh!!!!!!!"---
Posted by dennisam01

The span of the political ideological spectrum from far left alllll the way to the far right and alllll the way back again over everybody in-between is so vast that being able to put onesself in the shoes of others is like a massive undertaking of perseverence and patience, especially in tough times like today.

I guess what the McCain camp''s essentially saying is that for this year in which a majority of people greatly favor the Dem ideology when it comes to economics the overwhelmingly dominant issue, their strategy is going to be to move others to think like them rather than moving themselves to think like others.

Either the GOP would rather lose than adapt, or they really fancy themselves as being so powerful that they could get others to do what they themselves refuse to do, right (?) :o

Probably it''s both, wouldn''t you think . . . I guess if the GOP have guessed wrong and they do lose and they finally accept that their brand is in tatters, they''ll have 4 or 8 years to rebuild because by then we''ll probably all be way sick of the Dems and the GOP''ll get to be the party of ''change'' :o

[tallyman2008]

William Kristol writes:

''The odds are against John McCain and Sarah Palin winning this election.''





You Betcha

[lordmi]

that is blah-blah-blah here.
Sometimes it''s better to skip the word, right?

[observantx]

The positive component is pretty straightforward: McCain and Palin are common sense conservatives and proven reformers - William "KoolAid" Kristol

Common sense.

Conservative.

Reformers.

Uh-huh. Sure. Riiight.

How about "none of the above".

Kristol, go pound sand.

[babooph]

It is getting to be too late to dump whaco Palin-at Johns age the VP may be very important-we cannot survive another whaco in the White House-we may be finished already.

[oscarez]

The NRC and GOP are running McCain because they know the Democrats are going to take the White House and the congress. So what do you do, you run some one that will never run again. The GOP picked attack dog Palin as VP only because they have no chance of winning.

[hologram5]

The GOP have no chance in getting the White house this year.

[singlasalil8]

All i can say is the race is not over yet!!!
McCain and Palin''s campaign still has a chance and they are very much in the game.
Though there is slight in-experience which Palin has shown but she has the ability to reach people''s mind and click the right node.From now on,great depends on how she carries herself and what all she can do in public to portray her party.

Here is a useful resource related to Palin

http://dailysource.org/palin

It has in-depth research, audio clips, videos, excerpts and links to hundreds of articles, including many from papers and TV stations in Alaska. It has rare footage, including her telling the 2008 convention of the Alaska Independence Party, whose goal is to give Alaska a vote on seceding from the U.S. to %u201Ckeep up the good work.%u201D

The level of research is unparalleled.

[pdchapin]

1) It''s not over.
True, but the last couple of elections have seen little net movement the last month.
2) Ideology counts.
True, please run on a platform on tax cuts for the rich, deregulation and trickle down economics.
3) Character counts.
True, but Ayers is meaningless. Wright isn''t but I''d match a left wing religious nut with the right wing religious nuts that McCain embraced to get nominated. On crocked business men it''s also a draw.
4) Palin the Reformer
Talk to me after the Troopergate report. Judgement on hold.
5) Palin held her own against Biden.
What are you smoking? Read the polls. She stopped the bleeding but that''s all.

[joker1944-2009]

You''re down 38-14 with about 5 mins left in the 4th quarter. Sure, you could come back but it would take a massive miracle, along with the Obama campaign to screw-up royally, which so far they haven''t.

Palin was a stupid choice. The phony suspension of the campaign backfired. McCain''s history is checkered with connections to the S&L scandal as well as Iran-Contra.

Hey, you guys tried with what little you had to go on. It didn''t help that a Republican president, along with several years of GOP control of congress basically drove the nation into the gutter.

You had your chance Republicans, and you blew it big time. It''s time to let the grown-ups govern again.

[trillion1]

People like ''Bloody'' Bill are all the GOP has left.

[suzyku]

This team of yours: mcblame/failin are first of all lacking any integrity, character or depth. Apparently they''re both clueless on the issues that matter so they just lie, blame and attack character! We are sick and tired of looking at mcblames OLD face and yup, we''re *** tired of lookin at the wink, wink, good ol'' girl act of lies and mean ****** remarks. She is no more than a trained monkey (no offense to monkeys) repeating talking points, she comes off as an ignorant dummy who doesn''t understand the issues! actually she''s a moron! NO WINK, WINK, NOD, NOD, WINK, WINK! WHAT A BAD JOKE! As a woman voter I find her an embarrasment!

[trohunt00]

Kristol is an idiot.
''..But one shouldn''t underestimate the ideological issue, and the potency of the fact that Obama and Biden are orthodox liberals. They''re for raising taxes, federally funding abortions, naming activist judges, and losing wars.'' Did this guy actually say that there are Senators in the US who are FOR losing wars? Either he really belives that, or he''s a complete idiot who should not be allowed to work in the media any longer. "Consorting with dubious figures"? John McCain was friends with Strom thurmond. Since he was friends with an avowed racists I should assume that John McCain also shares his racist views right? Palins husband is palling around with a group that hates America. So palin is married to a guy that holds those views right? See how easy it is to play six-degress of Sarah Palin? kristol is a joke!

[petesis]

Anyone with as much blood on their hands as Mr. Kristol, I would think Sen. McCain would not want to be photographed with this guy.

[eggy1620]

It speaks volumes when your strategy is not demonstrating how good you are, but how bad your opponent seems to be.

[wakeup60]

Obama/Biden...Go, Go, Go!!! What is the Right up to with all of this "SLIM-BALL-MUD"-The only thing it is doing,as everyone(just about)in this commentary has stated AND very well-I might add/all this MUD SLINGING is backfiring for McBush and The Annoying voice of The Tundra Tsetse Fly...Pal-out...not Palin. They need to quit their smear tactics/which are old and worn out trick statements or blatant lies-try something that may just work for ya...something the people actually want to hear/truths of how they would take care of this country and how they would try and FIX what DUBYA HAS TOTALLY DESTROYED IN 8 YEARS INCLUDING THE LIVES AND FAMILIES OF OVER 4,400 OF OUR TROOPS AND THE COUNTLESS MAIMED AND PRICELESS, PRECIOUS BRAINDEAD SOLDIERS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT HOME TO "NO" BENEFITS OR HELP-FOR THEIR FAMILIES-TRY STARTING WITH THAT-"BARACK OBAMA" AND "JOE BIDEN" ARE ATTUNED TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COUNTRY AND THAT IS WHY THEY ARE PULLING AHEAD-IT''S THAT SIMPLE!

[noloyalisti]

If McPalin becomes pResident, we are soooo in trouble. Palin is an end times religious wacko and Grampy McSame is a corporate fascist. OH MY GOD save America from another nightmare.

[nellybelly52]

MSM is now slanting just enough towards some "good points" McCain has made and acknowledging statements as being true...

[mycommentspg]

McCain/Palin is the only true choice for America at this point in time.

[alohaone1]

Obama is a fake and will be exposed in due time. Saying he is a Uniter , yet , has no meaningful record of crossing party line during his time in congress and is the 3 most Liberal member of Congress. Obama supporters think that he is the savor , yet , all he ever did in his life was to be a community organizer and during his time in congress , he DID NOT acchieve any legislation that can be called a Landmark or is of any significant .Obama wants to protray himself as moderate , yet , his pastor is a radical who called for God to *** America , his associates are terrorists who once bombed the US and is unrepentant to this day . Obama sells himself as change , yet , connected at the hip to the corrupt Chicago political machine , with Tony Retzko as an example . Obama can sell himself as anything to his Kool-Aid drinking supporters , BUT SENSIBLE Americans will take a look at the FACTS and HIS RECORDS ( which is minimal at best) and ask WHO IS BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA ????REALLY ?!

[alohaone1]

I am not so worry about Palin becoming President as Obama becoming President and appointing friends like Louis Farrakhan , Rev. Wright , Bill Ayers , Tony Retzko ....to the cabinet . Then we are really doomed . AS for Palin , she will be just fine , she has shown times and again that she is intelligent and perform well under pressure .And as much as the Libs want Mc cain DEAD right after election day , I bet anyone that MC CAin will be around and healthy for the next 10 years , so Palin will be just a help with Energy matters which she knows very well and which America needs most right now. And again , Why is it okay for Obama supporters to wish Mc Cain death , yet , it is NOT okay for Hillary to compare Obama to RFK ??? Everyone knows that there are at least 100,000 White supremacists out there who do not want a Black to become president ? this is just as factual as Mc Cain health condition yet , no one seem dare talk about ???? If you do not want to talk about this , please , do not wish John Mc Cain dead because he will be healthy for a long time !

[stopkidding]

We have our instructions. Quickly stop talking about the economic crises brought on by the failures of the Republican party (not to mention drowning an American city, losing two wars, and destroying the Constitution)and start telling lies about the Dems. It''s so crazy it must might work!

[noloyalisti]

You have top be a real moron to be spitting out right wing propaganda about Obama, 99% of which is made up by simple minded righties.

Anyone who wants more of the Grampy McSame is a freakin idiot, let''s face it. What good has McBush ever done for the working people?

[chalres-2009]

You have got to be kinding me. This lying bunch of terroist can not possible have a chance. Not Palin the terroist, if you don''t believe, check it out
http://soonerthought.blogspot.com/2008/09/palin-supporter-of-alaskan-separatist.html
Two Can Play That Game.

[joker1944-2009]

McCain/Palin is the only true choice for America at this point in time.

Posted by mycommentspg at 02:21 PM : Oct 07, 2008

I''m sure our enemies would a agree with you. What better way to stick a dagger in the heart of America then an administration that would carry on the failed policies of the Bush administration?

Vote McCain/Palin - if you''re curious how far America can fall.

[tonyd_31]

John McSame and Sarah Palin can win if somehow he finds the fountain of youth in the next week or two and she suddenly wakes up one day and find herself with a brain. Short of these two things happening, they are toast (and rightfully so).

[tonyd_31]

McCain/Palin is the only true choice for America at this point in time.

Posted by mycommentspg

I guess this guy is from the 12% of us who thinks the country is on the right track. Newsflash: A 12% does not speak for the majority of American.

[sloganvz]

Alohaone1 Posted:

"his Kool-Aid drinking supporters , "

You have got to be joking!?!? You are a racist piece of garbage you know that. I''m a republican and its people like you that give the GOP a bad name!!!!

[sloganvz]

Alohaone1 Posted:

"his Kool-Aid drinking supporters , "

You have got to be joking!?!? You are a racist piece of garbage you know that. I''m a republican and its people like you that give the GOP a bad name!!!!

[aakalan]

Oh, Kristol, you are such a jerk. Always have been. As well as almost always wrong. Why does anyone let you write for them?

Obama killed McCain in the debate tonight by big numbers according to all the pundits and the polls. Your insanity will not survive November 4.

Thank God.

[simplemind2]

For that to happen, Ms. Governor Palin has to do a real "SPREAD" - instead of just "WINKs".
A lot of strong "Family Valued" die-hard Republicans would really love to see that.
Some of them holding the sign which says "Marry me" during her pep rally.
Just imaging what will happen - when indeed she made a "SPREAD" - the crowd - i.e. the above die-hard Republicans - would really really go "WILD".
Bigger her "GAP" - closer the crowd''s "GAP" - WINK, WINK!

[markinga7]

What self respecting journalist would encourage candidates to sling mud? He shows how low many (but not all) Republicans have fallen.

The only way McCain "catches up," is to slip behind the stick of another doomed plane and fire an air to air missile up the pipe. As for Sarah, the only thing she''ll ever "catch up" is that stuff that she spreads on her grilled moose meat.

[eggy1620]

Posted by proisrael at 09:59 AM : Oct 08, 2008

Yeah, it is much safer to walk the streets of the West Bank, huh?

[noloyalisti]

Maybe McSame and Quaylin can start a new party, the new American fascist Christian party. Then they could win in the Midwest and South.