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McCain's Risky Move For Tonight's Debate

October 07, 2008 6:19 PM

ABC's Ron Claiborne reports from Nashville:

We've been hearing for several days now how McCain is going to go the offensive at tonight's debate. Trot out one of hoariest of political clichés, that he is going to take off the gloves (McCain was asked last week when he was going to take off those gloves and he said "Tuesday" -- tonight.

We've seen his running mate Sarah Palin pounding Barack Obama for his purported "association" with Bill Ayers, the former leftist radical who bombed government buildings in 1960s.

And yesterday, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, McCain went after Obama with what was unquestionably the harshest, most ferocious single attack of the campaign; one that verged on and probably crossed the line to the personal.

But McCain is in a delicate position in the debate tonight. Striking an aggressive pose, attacking his opponent while looking him in the eye (if he looks him the eye; in the first debate he didn't) is a risky move. It can easily come across as nasty and disrespectful. McCain knows that he has to shake up this race and the two remaining debates are the only single event opportunities to do that.

But -- to mix metaphors -- going to the big score is a high wire act fraught with risk. The risk is coming that in attacking Obama, he comes across as desperate and, well, political. McCain's brand is that he is a different kind of politician. Straight shooter. Maverick. The guy who promised to raise the level of political discourse, who said again and again he would run a "respectful" campaign on the issues. Going after Obama too hard could easily tarnish the brand. Yes, McCain will go after Obama in an aggressive fashion, but it may be more subtle than some are predicting.

Also, when taking questions from citizens, there is more pressure to actually answer the question, to satisfy the questioner than in a tradition debate forum. Moderators -- who are after all members of the media, not a profession held in high regard by the public -- can be ignored. Ignoring the question of an (self-described voter standing 20 feet away can easily be perceived as insulting).

In particular, if Ayers doesn't come up in a question, I suspect McCain will not bring him up himself. That task may end up consigned to Palin in the attack dog role. And invoking Ayers might cause Obama to bring up the Keating 5 scandal. As McCain's aides will tell you, McCain was ultimately found to have used bad judgment in intervening with federal banking officials on behalf of savings and loan exec Charles Keating, but was cleared of any ethnical violations. But does he really want to have that brought up with tens of millions of people watching on television? There's a generation of voters who don't know or have forgotten about that tawdry affair. McCain may decide to keep that out of the debate by keeping Ayers out.

Where the McCain campaign thinks they can hit Obama is to raise questions that essentially say this: "Who is this guy? You know me. You don't really know him, do you? What's he really for? What's he ever done?"

The notion is to make this election a referendum on Obama and exploit reservations swing voters may have about this relative newcomer. Look for McCain to exploit those doubts, lay the groundwork for more aggressive attacks on the stump more than go for a knockout punch in one night.   

October 7, 2008 in Vote 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (51)

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WHY MCCAIN HAS NOT BEEN SEEN IN PUBLIC IN THE LAST 2 DAYS.

McCain apparently had a dizzy spell and almost collapsed, but was caught by one of his FBI Security details.

Investigations are on trying to force McCain to release his latest medical records.

McCain has either developed prostate cancer or his skin cancer is back.

If any of this is true McCain has less than 3 years to live. And don't talk to me about his mother because she does not have cancer.

At what ages did McCain's father and grandfather die?

Just think about it for a moment my friends.

McCain will die in office if elected and Sarah Humpty Dumpty Palin will be President.

God Save America.

Posted by: Steve_NJ | Oct 7, 2008 6:21:42 PM

"You know me" says McCain.

Unfortunately we begin to know too much. McCain is demonstrating a wanton abandon for lies and dirty politics. What happened to your ethics and principles? John McCain claims to be a moral standard but only shows how low and poor a campaign can become when desperate.

Posted by: JR | Oct 7, 2008 6:27:07 PM

hahaha Good eye John McCain's conscience! That one went right over my head when I read it.

Posted by: Fairfax | Oct 7, 2008 6:50:05 PM

McCain is old and very sick, he is in this race because of his very big ego, but unfortunately he is not intelligent enough to be president of the greatest nation on earth. McCain's IQ is very low and he has very poor judegment. That is the reality he has to accept. God save America from McCain/Palin. God bless America and God bless Obama/Biden.

Posted by: BKMC | Oct 7, 2008 6:51:52 PM

I hope the negatives gives him what he is looking for a trip with Palin out of this race.....

Posted by: NH voter | Oct 7, 2008 6:53:09 PM

McCain is no longer what used to be 8 years ago. Now he looks like a boring politician repeating the same old tirade all over again.
The McCain reform ship have sailed years ago, now it's time for some new ideeas.

Posted by: thinker | Oct 7, 2008 6:54:05 PM

Because of our current economic crisis directly related to Bush and McCain's deregulation support with it's inherent lack of government oversight, I hope that we can discuss McCain's notorious and direct involvement in the huge Eighties savings and loan collaps. McCain was one of infamous Keating 5, and was humiliated to sit before congressional investigators and hearings, being grilled like the current day ultra-rich criminal CEOs. He was found to have engaged in unethical conduct, accused of very poor judgment in lobbying for a notorious criminal, Charles Keating. McCain himself has said that his unethical involvement was the worst mistake of his life.

Posted by: Jerrod | Oct 7, 2008 6:54:28 PM

I like the fact that Obama and Biden have totally ignored the Moose Lady dispite her daily reading from script attack, which leave old McSame running around like a chicken with lip stick with its head cut off. I think, I Think, I hear the fat lady warming up her voice.

Posted by: Vietnam Vet | Oct 7, 2008 6:54:55 PM

He can try the smear stuff tonight, but really, will us voters really want to hear it? What's your stance on the issues, John? Since you've already abandoned running on issues, you're toast in my opinion, but can't you at least TRY to run an above board campaign?

Posted by: HeidiL | Oct 7, 2008 6:55:09 PM

About time McCain showed the whole country who Obama really is, an inexperienced politian with questionable ties. And talk about Humpty Dumpty, God save us if Obama becomes president.

Posted by: Dennis | Oct 7, 2008 6:58:14 PM

McCain sold out to have achance to be President. His gambling and erratic behavior cost him. There's never been an issue that he has not reversed course on, taxes, drilling, reform, the list is huge on the things that he has flip-flopped on. Sometimes he flops over a two week period, and sometimes after several years. There is nothing that he truly believes in, other than dying to be President.

Posted by: Jeff | Oct 7, 2008 6:58:16 PM

Mr. Claiborne: "Unquestionably the harshest, most ferocious single attack of the campaign" ??? Spare your readers the melodrama. Americans face the most important presidential election of the last fifty years, at least. Americans want to see these two confront one another and may the best man win. If Americans are turned off by any candidate's tactic then the advantage goes to the opponent. Trust the American people to judge what is fair and what is not, and kindly refrain from trying to color the facts and circumstances. Americans are sick and tired of the media spinning and putting in their own two cents each time one of candidates draws a breath of air to speak.

Posted by: jcarob | Oct 7, 2008 6:58:43 PM

At some point, McCain will have to back off all of incessant his MSM complaining and baseless vile and racist attacking- just like Hillary had to- just to save face and try to restore some semblance of a positive image to return to Congress with. Right now is image is toast in Congress.

Posted by: Jack | Oct 7, 2008 7:02:51 PM

McCain's argument that "we know who he is" assumes voters have the memories of gnats. (Unfortunately, true) Since 200 he has more flip flots than an IHOP restaurant and the campaign just repainted the bus, "The Forked Tongue Express."
Finally, this media driven argument that there is some kind of immoral equivalency when Obama brings up Keating is bogus. First, the Keating 5 scandal is remarkably similar to what is happening now. Second, McCain was officially reprimanded by the Sen. Ethics Committee, and Third, if Obama won't stand up for himself, how can I expect him to stand up for me.

Posted by: B. Bear | Oct 7, 2008 7:04:35 PM

I'm affraid that John McCain was "programmed" by his communist captors; he is a ticking communist timebomb waiting to to be set off by his commie programmers once he's elected.

Posted by: scared_of_john | Oct 7, 2008 7:04:38 PM

The attacks, lies, smears, fear and hatred McCain and Palin are creating in their desperate attempt to get elected are turning people vicious towards the media and Obama.
With people shouting out "Kill" and "Terrorist", McCain is deliberately encouraging an assassination of his opponent.
Given his association with the Iran-Contra conspirators, it is no surprise.
These criminals will do anything.

Posted by: susan | Oct 7, 2008 7:05:06 PM

Questioning someone's credentials that wouldn't pass a background check for employment with the FBI is risky? Keep his feet to the fire and make him explain his associations. Why befriend the most radical members in the community? What is your real political agenda?

Posted by: Mack | Oct 7, 2008 7:07:20 PM

Reports from the McCain camp are out this evening that he plans to wimp out tonight, other than trying to scare the American voters. He will present no new specifics, on how to help us. Palin will do his nasty pitbull fighting for him on the stump later. Don't look for any fire at all from little mac tonight, just that same old dull, troll, monotone, disdainful, and condescending lifeless McCain debate style that we saw throughout the last debate.

Posted by: Jennifer | Oct 7, 2008 7:09:11 PM

I am very concerned about what Sarah Palin is doing at her rallies. I believe she could be accused of inciting riots after getting people all worked up into a frenzy, and one man even saying "kill him!" For the good of our country, cannot someone make her stop doing this? She did not even say anything. She should encourage people to be respectful, but then I guess she would have to be respectful. Maybe she could be arrested before something bad happens.

Posted by: Elaine | Oct 7, 2008 7:10:23 PM

I have never seen so many lies as from the communist scum on this site. How can any one get the truth from people like you. We need to investigate OB and the low life he surrounds himself with.

Posted by: 35bart | Oct 7, 2008 7:11:47 PM

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