The Political Science Class Lessons of the McCain Campaign

1) Sarah Palin is dynamic, charismatic, and telegenic on television and yet the McCain campaign decided to hide her.

(H/T Race 2008 I just took a peak at this interview of Sarah Palin by CNN

I can't understand what in the world the McCain campaign was thinking when handling the VP. She should have done all sorts of interviews. First of all, I wouldn't have rolled her out with Charlie Gibson. The first interview I would have had her done was local or state. I would have done something unconventional and given the local television station from Wasilla have to first interview. Then, I would have done a national interview. She should have done Rush's show right away. She frankly should have begun to do a lot of talk radio. Prior to her being

She frankly should have shown up every. She should have given local interviews in battleground states like in Philadelphia, Santa Fe, Grand Rapids, etc. Heck she should done interviews with bloggers.

The bottom line is she should have been in front of the camera and microphone as much as possible. Instead, we heard one of the greatest speeches of all time. Then, a week later a set of the worst set of interviews of all time. Then, we basically didn't hear her anywhere until the debate. Why would they hide her? It was mind boggling how badly they mishandled her.

2) Either you define your opponent or the opponent defines himself.

It was irritating watching McCain allow Obama to define his tax plan as being a tax cut for 95% of the people. I didn't hear him even point out that 40% of the people don't pay tax cuts until a couple weeks ago. He never once responded to Senator Obama's proclamation in any debate that 95% of the people would get a tax cut by pointing this out.

Then, Senator Obama's tax cut is a series of gimmicks and McCain couldn't figure out how to expose them. Joe the Plumber knew better than the McCain campaign how to attack Obama's plans. The McCain campaign should have been visiting successful small businesses all around the country showing how Obama's tax cuts would negatively affect their business. I would find a business like a successful company doing something in alternative energy.

The small business owner could point out that they could hire less workers as they walk through their staff. They could have shown some of the equipment that they use and would have to cut back on. Again, Barack Obama has been allowed to define the tax cuts as folks like himself and Warren Buffet. It could have been successful small business owner.

The issue goes on and on like this. Obama is able to define each portion of the tax issue in his favor. I watched Mike Huckabee on Fox News the other day, and he would have been able to pick apart the plan.

3) If you are going to stick your neck out, stick it all the way out.

So, McCain suspends his campaign, goes back to D.C., and then he winds up spending one day at his Virginia office. What was the point of coming back if all he did was massage a bad bill. The Republicans in the House had a great alternative. By sticking with them, he could have instantaneously distanced himself from Bush. Furthermore, Obama would have been left agreeing with Bush. The worst part from McCain's perspective, was that he always had an ace in the hole. The Democrats controlled both chambers. He could have always stipulated that if the Democrats wanted to pass a bill they could, but if they wanted the Republicans on board it wouldn't be a bailout.

It would have been the effective and astute political move. He would have come out taking control of the economic issue. It was mindboggling watching John McCain in the first debate simply saying that he wanted a bi partisan bill. This is where he likely lost the election.

4) Your opponent is far left economically. You don't need to move to the left on the issue.

For some odd reason, Senator McCain decides to propose a massive bailout of borrowers effectively blunting any attack on Obama's economic record. This mortgage bailout is mind boggling. Not only is it an asinine idea, it is totally politically brain dead. How can you say Barack Obama wants to increase the size of government and propose a $250 billion bailout for borrowers.

5) It's never over till it's over.

He learned it starting in the summer of 2007, and it isn't over now.

Here is how I viewed the other side.