[sandgk]

Originally Posted by MaxBuck

the GOP has become the "drunken sailor on leave" party ...

If his slogan read "McCain the drunken sailor on leave party!" it would be a walk-off home run.

Originally Posted by Steve19

I think that McCain is grabbing a clear edge early on to define the debate of ideas. Obama better add something of substance to his "third term argument".
...
From the marketing angle, I think the early lead has to go to McCain. He is doing just fine.

That is a very intriguing observation - especially as it comes from an American overseas perspective.
Now, I may be looking at this through azure tinted glasses, but what I cannot see is where McCain is really doing fine in defining the debate, nor in terms of marketing his message.
For the record, I don't lean on the 3 months vs. 3 days argument. As far as I am concerned, once Obama turned down the heat on Clinton his became a more general election oriented campaign. At best I'd give McCain a 2 month head start in trying to deliver his message - and what astonishes me is how shambolic and incoherent his approach has been.
So, I'm wondering, where is it that McCain has mapped out a current and clear message, where is his marketing of self and message highly effective, or even more effective than Obama's efforts? Let's consider approaches and issues.

• Is he really shaping his own brand when he recasts his web portal with visual metaphors copped from Obama's slick and robust effort?
• Words matter - and delivery matters even more - so is McCain helping shape his image when he chooses the very night Obama goes over the top as the nominee to give the Lime Jello speech? A speech excruciating in it's mantra, again copped from Obama and monotonously inverted, dire in performance, before a midget reflection of the thousands applauding Barack in MN. So dreadful was this that even the right-wing friendly Fox News turns up it's nose at the stench.
• Consistency is key - and McCain has not been consistent. The switch from "Trust The Old Guy" to "Ch-Ch-Ch- Change" in front of the green backdrop in Kenner (not New Orleans as he claimed), is just one instance.

After all what does that do to the prior 3-4 months of pounding on the experience and worthiness mantra? Seems to me that McCain by trying to don the mantle of change is falling into the follower trap in politics.

• Issues & Actions vs. Reaction - Perhaps this is where your impression comes from. It is true that Obama has spent some time in the last week counter-punching McCain - on the economy, on the war in Iraq. But, it is also true that he has taken ample opportunity to highlight the many gaffes that issue from McCain's mouth. (Such as when (again) he states that getting the troops home is not that important).

About the only thing McCain has done to really surprise the Obam camp is the rather large TV buy they made in June ($3 Million by all accounts). Still, the above also means that Obama has to spend more time now defining the benefits of a vote for him and the detriments of a vote for McCain. I see that happening already. Putting McCain on the defensive if you will and really shaping the debate. Which debate still resolves to the war (duh) and the economy (stupid).

Originally Posted by Steve19

If I were Obama, I would wait until October and then unleash an incredible "which McCain are we to believe" campaign, showing McCain flipping and flopping on various issues. There's a lot out there. Then you catch him in the final debate just like Ronald Reagan did, "uh, John, there you go again."

That effort is already underway in some fashion - though I suspect you mean a very broad-based, visual and radio media buy - and for that I agree, keep your powder dry. (If McCain wants to waste funds today, that he may not recapture tomorrow, then let him).

I really look forward to your dispassionate outlook on this Steve. As it stands now Obama's message, image and campaign seem very well defined, change, bring the troops home ASAP from Iraq, right the moral, economic and constitutional errors of the last 8 years. If you are seeing it differently, I'd love to know why.