It all started in Iowa and here we are in the wake of Pennsylvania and it's still not over. The Democratic faithful are weary of reading the news every day: Who's up, who's down, who's racist, and who's sexist. It's a game everyone is tired of.
Surprisingly, there has been one thing we haven't seen or heard enough about in the Democratic primary, and that's attacks on John McCain. Sure, both candidates have gone after the Republican standard bearer (a little bit..but it's hardly the headliner), campaigns have run on the notion that their candidate is the best to take him on, and pollsters provide daily updates as to who's fairing best against him. But if that's the contest we're interested in, why not just...do it? For real.
Both the Obama and Clinton camps can use the upcoming primaries to go after John McCain with the kind of fervor they've reserved for each other. All of these states -- Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, South Dakota, Kentucky -- are places where Republicans routinely win. It's time to put all that potential energy to the test.
The best news is, there's something in it for everyone...
Presidential campaigns: by doing this, you put your money where your mouth is. Don't just tell us you can beat John McCain. Beat John McCain. Hit at his numbers, drive down his popularity. Hit him with the left hook, and then left again. No more debates, no more tired old arguments against each other. Breathe new life into your ranks and may the best man or woman win. We know you're all tired... after all, we are too. Give that oppo researcher his/her moment in the sun and USE some of that extensive research he should not have had this much time to compile.
Media: Ask the campaigns for their play books. Dig around with the staff. Find out what they're going to do to attack him. Do an inventory of the best counter-McCain surrogates on each team and tell us what each team's advisors tell us about... everything. We'll listen. We'll read it. We're desperate for the change in conversation.
Undecided Superdelegates: Now, when you have another conversation with the campaign surrogates, you can give them your best ideas on how to go after McCain, and see who puts it into play. This is, after all, what you want the campaign to be doing. Cut off that surrogate as they blab about faults of the other candidate, and ask him or her what they did that day on McCain.
Likely Democratic Voters: Pressure the campaigns to do it. Wait to give your $5 until you see a McCain attack. Tell reporters this is what you want to see, and that's how you'll judge the candidates before you cast a ballot. Make sure people know that if the Democratic hopefuls are coming to your state, you want to judge them based on how they might potentially turn your state Blue. You know what arguments work and you want to see the candidates employ them. In the meantime, some of the heartburn and fear you have about the general will be alleviated, as will the fear about being able to make friends again after the primary is ripped from the point of indecision.
Pundits: This is probably the one horse not yet beaten to death in this primary...and for once, we'd like to see you talk about it a bit more. You all were the ones who decided on the point spread for Pennsylvania, after all. We know you can change the conversation. Those of us that watch agreed with you...so why not a new litmus test? Think of all the conversations you could have! Was it Hillary's attack on Health Care that dropped McCain in the Rassmussen daily, or was it Obama taking it to the mats on being out of touch? There's no end to the judgments that can be passed!
I'm not saying either campaign should stop competing. I'm simply saying they should compete for voters by doing what they tell us they want to do: beat John McCain. If they're pressured in that direction, they'll do it. Turn up the volume, and for the next few weeks, keep your hands off each other and turn your guns on McCain. We'll be where we want to be, and the best candidate will be tested...for real.