Corrections: Chuck Hagel's hair is really steel-gray, not white. And I blew it by not including McCain's most incendiary quote from today: that Obama "would rather lose a war than lose a campaign." Awful.

I actually spent a while trying to write about what the Pentagon produced Obama images meant, in this very blog post. Ultimately I deleted it, because my reporting and reasoning seemed convoluted, even to me. In my defense, well, it's complicated. I worried about the Pentagon sabotaging Obama on this trip, not helping him. The fact that the military produced and released some of these glowing images is fascinating, and probably good news for Obama and Democrats. I certainly can't and don't blame Obama or his campaign for that good fortune (and of course I have blamed the Obama campaign for certain kinds of media manipulation in the past.) Let's keep watching and see how images and news emerge from the rest of his trip.

McCain simply seems like toast to me this week, botching his chance to reply to Obama on CBS/Katie Couric tonight, screwing up the dates of the Anbar Awakening and its relationship with the surge. I see no way for him to win this election; the only chance (and it gets smaller every day) is that Obama somehow finds a way to lose. I say that with no disrespect to Obama and no belief that he will find that way; fairness requires me to acknowledge that chance, the way it's mathematically possible for my San Francisco Giants to win the NL West.

Timelagged, I was referring to her glamorous, fashion-model superstar image, not her beauty and certainly not her alleged status as homewrecker. I do think the remaining danger is that Obama will be portrayed as the darling of the jet-setting elite based on this trip (well, we have heard some of that before this trip.) There's a story on AP getting circulated by conservatives about him not making time to visit wounded troops in Germany, for instance. If McCain has a prayer, this is his prayer.

HeatherJohnston, great blog! I really think you're right, it's mainly getting to know him. That accounted for the gulf in California in February. Christopher Michael Neill, I found myself wanting to headline this piece "Why is this race even close?" but I felt I'd used it before. And I had -- in 2000, the day before the election, writing about why Gore was (slightly) trailing Bush, although I called the race too close to call. What did I know?

kenkapkk, with all due respect, I watched you go off on Obama after FISA. So I really wonder why you would bait me that way over my raising questions about Obama earlier in the primary. I've been consistent about this race all along. I like Obama, but I didn't know that much about him, I'm not sure I entirely trust him -- but I expect to have some doubts about most politicians. Because I hate unfairness, I observed on more than one occasion that Clinton was being savaged for being a mere mortal politician, when I had a sneaking suspicion Obama was too. I still feel exactly the same way. And I support Obama.

FaulknerJr., no disrespect to your governor, or state, intended. I too was raised Catholic, I have a lot of people in my family who are very conflicted on this issue. But Kaine has trouble with stem cell research too. He's too conservative, in my opinion. I'm not pushing Sebelius; I think Obama should pick someone with somewhat more experience, but not a charisma-challenged hawk like Bayh. I know Biden's bankruptcy bill vote is problematic. Nobody's perfect. But Clinton deserves serious consideration, Bill or no Bill. If Obama can stand up to our enemies abroad, he can stand up to the former president. Imagine a leader great enough to unite this great party; I have a lot of faith in Obama.

This is a great letters thread. I will post more later, but I just wanted to say to Faulkner Jr.: You misunderstood me. I wasn't saying that Zuckman's explanation was ridiculous; I was saying that the McCain camp's claiming George Clooney is too substantive a celebrity to be compared with "vacuous" Barack Obama, who is more like Britney and Paris, was ridiculous. By comparing Obama to two white girls, the ad also emasculates him, which has its own racial subtext, of course.

Well then Klytus, I'm a little bit afraid to think about how much time you'd spend here if you were actually an admirer! But thanks for all your participation, admirer or not.

lateagain, if you'd elaborate on your experience with Obama and the pledge tonight, either here or in an email to me (jwalsh "at" salon.com) I'd be happy to run it as a post tomorrow. I'm fascinated by your story. It may or may not become a bigger GOP scandal, but I enjoyed your up-close description.

I am also happy to see Uncle Fester.