If the Obama camp can remember the Clinton mantra — “It’s the economy, stupid” — and find a way to connect on it, John McCain is going to have some problems.
To date, however, Obama has been difficulty getting through to the people who need to be gotten through to.
McCain, though, is doing its best to help the Illinois Democrat a helping hand:
With economic conditions worsening over the course of this year and voter anxiety on the rise, Mr. McCain has had to labor to get past the impression — fostered by his own admissions as recently as last year that the subject is not his strongest suit — that he lacks the experience and understanding to address the nation’s economic woes.
Wait, there’s more:
For much of this year, Mr. McCain has seemed to struggle to strike a balance between conveying the optimism that many voters want in their leaders, and the I-feel-your-pain empathy that they crave during hard times. His task is complicated by the tension between his plans to continue many of the economic policies of the unpopular incumbent Republican president he hopes to succeed, and his pledges to improve the American economy and shake up Washington.
Hank Kalet 