What to expect from McCain, Obama in 56 days

[SeaLyons]

>snip>

By Paul Begala
Special to CNN

Editor's note: Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist and CNN political contributor, was a political consultant for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992 and was counselor to Clinton in the White House. Begala is not a paid political consultant for any politicians or candidates. His new book is "Third Term: Why George W. Bush Loves John McCain." For another view of where the campaign stands, read here


Paul Begala says John McCain's campaign is seeking to base campaign on biography, not issues.

(CNN) -- Now that both conventions are over, Labor Day is behind us and the kids are back in school, let's take a look at how the last 56 days of the fall campaign may shape up:

What to look for from John McCain

I still think McCain's choice of Gov. Sarah Palin was insane from a governing point of view, but she has clearly energized the conservative base of the GOP -- folks who have always been leery of McCain. Her selection and the relentlessly negative convention have fired up McCain's base.

The party of Reagan -- sunny optimism, criticism offered in folksy witticisms and the shake of a head -- is gone. This is the party of Giuliani and Palin: sarcastic, sneering, snotty and snide. I don't know why, but meanness plays with the GOP base.

But the right-wing base alone will not win this race. McCain needs to move to the middle, and the Palin pick makes that tougher. So expect him to send Palin to small markets, use her to fire up the right-wingers, and then get his butt to the swing states. See how both campaigns are targeting battleground states »

Let's face it, the Bush-Republican brand is dead. Selling the old Bush line in this economy would be like trying to sell tickets for the return trip on the Titanic after it sank.

>end snip>

Read more....



http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/08/begala.campaign.commentary/index.html