The basic strategy is there for voters and Obama can even challenge those who threaten to defect to McCain from Clinton, in a Reaganesque way. “I say to you: If you really believe that more of the same is what America needs more than the change I offer you, then you should vote for John McCain this November. If you are like so many others instead who have tired of the Republicans' failures in Washington and see a need for a change in order for America to be better, you should vote for me this November.”

After all, though it's not that conclusive, it pretty much is generally so — that simple.

Kathryn, you're dead wrong about the media (other than Fox once in a while). [sigh]
The Media are Dem cheerleaders and Obama campaign auxiliaries this year.

McCain needs a real conservative to have a chance at appearing truly different than the Dems. (Dem convention “Sidekick” ace comment notwithstanding) The other choice McCain can make to be distinctive is to choose Lieberman and try to poach Clinton voters and appeal to a broad group of swing voters. Either way McCain is still weaker than Obama and represents the GOP status quo in the minds of most.

The most logical choice is Romney, whom I don't like (I call him the teevee anchor; also he has compromised his “conservatism”), but many do like him and note that Romney among the four main actors, if chosen for VP (Biden, McCain, Obama, Romney) is the one best qualified on the basis of executive experience and of business experience, something badly needed in government (not business's bidding a la Cheney and energy companies; spare us the cheap shots, please).

Even with Romney I believe McCain will remain on the defensive and much for McCain and Romney or whomever will depend on any exposure of the Dems' threatening to go too far left and repel voters in substantial numbers. Romney's business experience and a sense of the GOP being “safe and sane” versus a too-left Democratic Washington has no large-scale appeal, though; this is a year of style over substance and yes, a desire for change, as indicated by the 2006 election results and a failure of the GOP to have learned and changed since then.

I have a dim view of the GOP convention and the GOP's prospects, though you never know — Gore gave us a miracle in 2000 and we may get another one yet.

That is what was so shocking about the aftermath of Katrina and the mismanagement of the Iraq War during the first 5 years. Yes, people rely on the GOP for competence, but the last competent president was actually a Democrat.

I guess the reason that they do this is because they can be pretty darned sure that no one in the media is going to call them on it. The “liberal” media receives the GOP talking points/meme and repeats them verbatim because they are so terrified of being accused of bias. The one different thing this time is Mr. Maverick himself. He is a loose cannon who hates being told what to do. Is it possible that his desire to win is keeping that cannon under wraps? Sadly yes, when you sell your soul, you sell your personality as well. But I will hate to see the eruption that's going to come if he wins after keeping this all inside. The VP pick is going to matter a great deal this time.

I would prefer a strong CEO type like Romney who has actually met a payroll, but I am also pro-Joe & pro Condi Rice [a Quinnipiac poll shows McCain/Condi ticket beating Obama by FIVE POINTS in NY State of all places]. Rice would get both some female & black holdouts against a non-slave descendant like Obama.

Plus she's smarter than anyone in the US Senate on foreign policy, including Biden.