Did he mean it? Didn’t he mean it? Who cares — he blew it and blew it badly.

Because EITHER:
* Obama meant to talk a little smack about an opponent who landed quite a few solid hits on him in her convention speech. If he meant to do that … he failed. Her digs came off smart, funny and brash; his just seem classless, childish and mean.

OR:
* Obama was just reaching for a folksy expression and didn’t think of how it would be understood. That’s probably worse, because it makes him clueless, boorish and inconsiderate.

I actually think it was a trial balloon. I think he was testing the waters to see if his fans would demonstrate the kind of explosive approval that Sarah enjoyed. But I think it was poorly conceived and badly executed. And yes, I think it’s probably good for another 2 points in the polls if only — as Roger says — the McCain camp doesn’t act huffy and oversensitive.

(What I’d really love for them to do is just turn Sarah loose on it. I’m kinda betting she knows how to handle a beginner like Obama.)