Just some random thoughts that I have had watching this. I have been too busy to focus on blow-by-blow, which may or may not help for clarity.
First, the Republicans:
- It really feels like the pro-choice thing is a hip-fake. One option is that it is a hip-fake for Mitt Romney. Another is that it is a way of telling moderates that McCain is thinking about them even if he is not capable of giving them something.
- It sure feels like the Romney campaign is back in full gear. I mean, why today, of all days, does Mark Halperin have a link to something about Romney’s healthcare plan? This is exactly the sort of tactic that the Romney campaign excelled at in the primary. Romney’s problem is like Obama’s. All the great tactics, etc., will only get you so far. In the end, "the dogs won’t eat the darn stuff."
- Thinking back to the 3 subgroups (see the POS presentation after the jump on these groups) that the McCain campaign thinks that they need to move, I wonder who helps. This feels like a list for Tim Pawlenty or Carli Fiorina, except for the 3rd:
- Rehab Republicans. I think that they are mostly back. Mostly "the Mac" being "back" was enough to move the dial on them. Someone too convention probably is mildly repelling.
- "Walmart Women" Who would do that?
- Facebook Independents.
- Wouldn’t Joe Lieberman put the exclamation point on "old"?
Really only one thought on the Dems:
- Perhaps Patrick was right. A very good source is telling me that multiple DNC members have told him that Hillary is the person. While not immediately intuitive, Clinton is the candidate who one can easily imagine helping with Barack Obama’s numbers. Which seem to be … in bad shape? Who else would fundamentally shift the numbers? You could see her bringing Democrats back home, etc., in a way that none of the other candidates could.
- By the way, she would probably school most Republican VP candidates in the debates. And she and Bill know how to attack attack attack.
But what do I know?
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