The left is reacting this way because they still can’t believe they’re in a dogfight this year. By any stretch of the imagination, McCain shouldn’t have a chance, but there’s enough mistrust of Obama to keep the race close, and when the Palin announcement limited Obama’s bounce, Palin became the target.

They can’t assail McCain’s character, Obama’s pales in comparison. They can’t match McCain’s record, Obama has none to run on. They can’t call for bipartisanship, McCain has walked that walk (often to his political disadvantage), Obama might not even know a Republican outside the Senate.

All they have are scare tactics about McCain’s age and ties to Bush, and no Republican is less tied to Bush on major issues than McCain. That’s what we’ll see until Election day.