That's my question - the post says McCain did it, but is that true? I just don't see him making these kind of decisions, or at least I have trouble seeing it done on a rational basis. I guess I could believe that he was angry about something and just someone else in he liked better. But I can't believe he comes up with ways to make sure everyone's feelings are protected (which has to be very important where a disgruntled high level campaign employee could easily torpedo you, right?)

At a time when most Americans are fed up with Bush, it is noteworthy that the Republicans have not had anyone to run a political campaign except the likes of Rove, for over eight years. Now that Rove-politique is not going to work, they have no one else with the talent to do something different. So all they can do is shift people around into different positions.

On top of that, McCain mistakenly has abandoned the 2000 McCain style for the 2000 Bush style. Talk about having the timing backwards. If McCain 2008 were more like McCain 2000, Obama would have a much more difficult fight ahead of him.

That said, I hope the last couple of weeks of Obama explaining himself will end soon and he will get on with the job of communicating what the voters need to hear. No one is going to think Obama is a patriot because he gave a speech about it, if that person thought he was not patriotic before the speech. I can see the need to get some of that stuff out there, but I hope his campaign quickly gets past dwelling on the nature of Obama's identity and get on to talking about the economy and how bad Bush's third term will be.

Here here...except unfathomable as it might be for all of us wonky politicos on this board, honest god, MOST americasn are JUST beginning to tune in.

No, I'm serious. Really. I know its hard to believe.

So he HAS to introduce himself because there a more than a few folks who are waking up and saying "Who's that?" then they go to their email box and "find out". Then they get scared and wonder who this terrorist is who's running for President.

Seriously.

He has to introduce himself early and often. And he MUST come across as "your next door neighbor", someone you can be comfortable with, enough to vote for. This is why he's seeming so MIDDLE, because that's who is just tuning in and THAT'S who will decide this election.

We must be patient. Trust me, by November we'll be more tired of it that we were in June. LOL

A guy who can't get his campaign in order after all these months of being the nominee of his party is going to be "ready on day one?"

In the immortal words of Bill Clinton, GIVE me a break!

This guy, McSame, can't do effective housekeeping, can't manage his own campaign. How can he expect anyone to think he can do better running the country?

Steve Schmidt a California based operative is best known for his southern congressional campaigns. He used to brag that it gave him the chance to play the race card. Watch out Barak, this will be a Rove driven campaign