Should Barack Obama defeat John McCain, two moments stand out. First, the moment Obama broke his promise to limit campaign spending and participate in public financing was the moment he won the presidency. McCain was, as they say, hoisted by his own petard. By abiding by the campaign rules that he has championed, McCain doomed his campaign, which is getting outspent everywhere. Obama, by breaking his word, demonstrated that he would do and say whatever it took to win. Second, the moment John McCain decided to vote alongside Obama and for George W. Bush's $700 billion bailout he lost the presidency. The ancient Arizona senator had an opportunity to separate himself from the unpopular president, side with the overwhelming majority of the American people, and infuse meaning into his claims of being a maverick and being against big government. It would have been a Palinesque gamechanger, in that the conversation would immediately shift to McCain and away from Obama. Alas, McCain didn't do this and the rest, like his campaign, is history.

Good points, Dan. I can't think of any items that were more influential.

One aspect of his pro-bailout stance I found of interest was that Palin's initial gut reaction was to be "very dissapointed" in the bailout talks. She quickly stood back and toed the line but I got a pretty distinct impression that her gut take on it was that it was a disaster. I can't imagine her oil rigging and unionist husband supporting the banker bailout.

I think the significane in this episode is it shows how despite his seeming overwhelming desire to become president that picking palin showed, he just can't change who he is. In fact, it is b/c he is more "principled" than Obama, that is, more ideologically defined or determined by his past choices and beliefs, that he flubbed the greatest opportunity he had to seize the presidency. If he had taken a cue from his neophyte running mate he could have tapped into a populist strain that would have likely won him the day in places like Ohio and Pennsylvania.

My impression is that John McCain does not want to be president, and is just sleepwalking through the campaign. Obama is an easy target -- a long history of suspect associations, a far left voting record, and totally inexperienced. The fiery McCain of the primaries doesn't have a spark left in him.

With the economy in turmoil and the Iraq war as unpopular as ever, I don't think McCain wants the job. He's getting up there in years, and why should he want to assume responsibility for all these problems -- problems that no one really understands.

McCain is throwing the election to Obama.

McCain sold his sole for the nomination.
Rush was originally going to vote for Hillary instead of him. Then he de-mavericked.
The Image of hugging Bush is an enduring one along with voting with Bush 90% of the time effectively branding him.
Selecting Palin provided a bounce but has backfired big time.
PS - public financing also doomed Kerry in 2004.

SOUL

McCain has not lost yet but he is running out of time. It seems more likely than not, at this point, that Obama will win but it may be a bit premature to declare Obama the winner just yet.

So I saw that stat of voting with the President 90% of the time and that got me to wondering what percentage has Obama "voted with the president"? Also, is any such stat meaningful when Buch has brely vetoed any legislation at all? I don't know that it means much to say that McCain has voted in favor of 90% of all legislation passed in the last 8 years. I suspect that Obama has probably voted for 80-90% as well since they are both socialist-statists and I can think of hardly any non-progressive legislation passed in Bush's tenure.

How do you think that the most liberal left leaning member of Congress is going to vote 100% of the time? Obama is the ultimate maleable follower and would never go against his ilk. Plus, that would require thought and present some level of difficulty, two things he is not willing to resolve.

Now that's change you can believe in!

When there is nothing specific to criticize – any ad hominem attact will do.

Nothing specific RC? I don't have enough space here to list the facts proving how unqualified and dangerous this guy is. Holy smokes. You Obots are so dim! Or in denial. Either way, you don't get it.

Southside Chicago, BOs turf, gutter before during and after Oslama. Now thats change you can believe in!

FACT: Bears eat beets

FACT: I am faster than 80% of all snakes.

Fact:5) If I could menstruate, I wouldn’t have to deal with idiotic calendars anymore.

Fact: Battlestar Galactica is the best

Fact: Palin still doesn't realize that the vice prez. does not control the senate.

Really? I understand you are an ideologue, but does that blind you to the two MUCH MORE LIKELY reasons:

1. Obama ran a superior campaign.

2. McCain's choice of Palin as VP (if you are still one of the die-hards that refuses to recognize reason number one).

I am an independent voter who helped to elect Bush in the last campaign. I am also a fan of your books. Having said that, it amazes me when people even think McCain is competitive.

I am a great fan of your blog. I hope you can see the virtues in the man who impressed me in his first victory speech in Iowa, long before he had money to spend.

And Obama winning each debate easily has precious little to do with the public financing system.

Can the unthinkable possibly be true? That this man truly is the superior man?

I hope your ideology does not rule out objectivity.