“The close polling data will have the effect of lulling McCain into running a safe campaign that tries to preserve what he has, hoping the independents will swing his way in October and put him over the top, while Obama can afford to take risk after risk because he’s young and he’ll be back, even if McCain wins this time.”

Other than Richard Nixon I can’t think of a losing Presidential candidate who has been given a second shot by his party, at least not in recent times. If BHO fails, much of the Democrat party will be driven mad with frustration and disappointment. Too many of them will blame the candidate for him to make a comeback as a Presidential candidate, although he would certainly have as much of a claim on the limelight as previous failed candidates.

After eight years of Republican control of the Presidency it is the natural time for those important middle-of-the-road voters to hand the Oval Office to a Democrat. I believe they would throw out the Republicans if only the Democrats hadn’t nominated such a colossal flake, and if the Republicans hadn’t nominated such a RINO as McCain.

As far as safe campaigning by McCain, it makes perfect sense for him to shut up when the spotlight is on BHO. He is smart enough to know that the more exposure BHO gets with white working-class Democrats, the more likely they are to give the election to McCain.