McCain’s Terrible Strategy, Part 894

Al Giordano makes a great point:

The irony of the week is that with their recent divisive statements about “pro-American parts of the country” and “anti-American parts of the country,” about “real Virginia” and “fake Virginia,” and an assist from that whack-job Congresswoman in Minnesota who wants an investigation of what she calles “anti-American” members of Congress, Obama’s rivals have served up the perfect introduction to the return of his 2004 convention speech, making it seem new and fresh all over again.

The way you beat Obama is the way you beat any politician the public likes but has doubts about: you adopt his message and then add some value to it. By the end of the primaries, Clinton had done this (change + a fighter). This is also what Kerry did in 2004 to beat Dean (Dean is all about standing up for values but Kerry did the same in the trenches).

McCain actually has the history to out-Obama Obama. But starting with his choice of running mate, he’s run completely away from that, and more towards turning out the base. It’s not going to work, and in essence gives Obama the dream closing stump he wanted, without making it seem forced. All for what? To pander to a few thousand voters?