The McCain End Game Is No Surprise

During primary/caucus season, the potential nominees slug away at each other, testing themes that might cause partisans to decide that a particular candidate is too weak to win the general election for the party.

Hillary Clinton tried the "William Ayers/Tony Rezco/Jeremiah Wright" connections theme--but Democratic voters decided that those issues didn't deter them from thinking Obama was the stronger general election candidate.

Please spare me the shocked indignation now that the McCain/Palin ticket has advanced into the end game that Obama knew was coming: the questioning of his judgment and philosophy through his past associations. The Obama campaign was prepared and is in full response mode. Keating Five, anyone?

And so the McCain theme remains: Obama is not ready to lead. If the American people disagree, Obama will win.

Despite the media caterwauling, these past associations will remain an issue this last month. Be honest with me, fair readers of both parties: have you EVER seen the media so willing to dismiss ANY charge leveled against a particular candidate as we've seen with Obama?

Oh that's right: we saw it in 1976.