Posted by
Andrews on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:26:40 AM
I don't normally agree with Dick Morris, and I don't agree still with everything he said, but he is at least part right in
his most recent article.
First, the part with which I don't agree. I think Morris, being a polling wonk, always overestimates the reliability of polls. McCain may have "lost" the debate, he might not, but what is certain is the media said he lost, and the polls reflect the media narrative. Whenever the media says Obama is ahead, the polls reflect a slight bump in his favor. Recall that after the Obama European lovefest he was up 8, but it didn't last. Obama may have given great canned speeches, but he still has to speak off the cuff, and he will do himself in.
However, Morris is right on three other points.
First, McCain really needs to work with Republicans. As I said before, his ads
effectively accusing Republicans of corruption are not winning him any friends in the party, nor are
his intermittent shifts back into
his old "maverick" mode. He needs to work with Republicans to present a consistent message. Especially as this whole mess can be laid directly
at the Democrat's doorstep, he really needs to work with his party to present a coherent message. It is even more important they do so, as the Democrats, being in the majority, can easily be blamed for failed resolutions. But only if McCain and the Republicans start to work together.
Second,
the bailout needs to go. Handouts to companies and those defaulting on mortgages can be made into political poison. If McCain keeps up his opposition tot he bailout and can get the Republicans to join him, they can make the Democrats seem not only to be favoring the irresponsible over the responsible, but also cast the Democrats as the friends of big business at the expense of the tax payers. McCain made some halting steps in this direction with his ads linking Obama to Fannie Mae, but
he needs to turn it up some.
Third, Morris says McCain needs to hammer Obama on taxes. But I say go a bit farther. Not just taxes, but also Biden's
paean to trial lawyers, Obama's
retread of old liberal panacaeas such as "after school programs" and "national service". He needs to show Obama for the traditional tax and spend liberal he is. Don't let Obama's lip service to being for "the middle class" divert attention from the truth of his policies. McCain needs to paint Obama as
the liberal he is. That alone would be more than enough to turn off the bulk of independents.
Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think McCain is losing the way so many pundits seem to. I think he still has a strong campaign, and neither the economic problems nor Obama's eloquent recital of canned speeches is going to defeat him. On the other hand, McCain has a chance to secure a massive victory for the right if he plays his cards right.
He needs to do four things. First, show Obama for the liberal he is. Second unite with Republicans. Third, refuse to bail out anyone. Fourth, tell the public that half of the "crisis" is the fear that the media is creating, and that we need to keep a level head, rather than jumping at every knee jerk reaction. He needs to emphasize the need for a decisive and level headed president.And most importantly, one experienced enough to tell a bad idea from a good one.
Sadly, on all four he is not succeeding at the moment. But there is plenty of time left.