The Debate

The political sites online are abuzz with the usual framing of this last debate: it's McCain's last chance and something exciting better happen for him. Obama just needs to keep the status quo.

Ok, I guess that's a fair analysis, but McCain has already screwed up:

First, he has set up a confrontation on the fake "Ayers" issue. Obama knows it's coming and surely has a well thought-out response. Mentioning Ayers will be a dud for McCain, but Obama's response and a discussion of the whole silliness of it will consume pundits before and after the debate. McCain will not change the perception that he is motivated 100% by what advantages him politically, not honor, patriotism, or "maverickness."

Second, McCain has already said he's going to kick Obama's ass at the debate. Ah, McCain is so brilliant- he has raised expectations for himself through the roof and if goes out there and acts like he did the first two debates, people will be like, "WTF", how is that "kicking ass?" If he actually does go after Obama harshly, he'll look desperate, angry and inconsistent because he wasn't really aggressive during the first two debates.

Third, it's the third debate. McCain has set himself up to fail by his just "ok" performance in the first two debates. People are starting to tune out of this election and just want to get it over with. After all, it's dragged on since January! Americans aren't known for their long attention spans.

Hopefully, McCain will accomplish nothing tonight and Obama will continue to excel in the polls. It really is amazing to me how broad Obama's rise has been the last four weeks. Maybe now, all the people who are constantly bitching that Obama can't "seal the deal," "break away," or "make the sale" will silence themselves. Somehow, I doubt it though. To them, if Obama isn't polling 20% ahead of McCain in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, he really just isn't up to snuff.