My concern is that the Obama campaign seems to be blindly following the failed campaign strategies of Gore and Kerry. The Obama campaign, like those two previous proven failures, seems not to understand the nature of what a modern presidential campaign is all about. They conceptualize campaigning as some sort of glorified college debate which it most certainly is not. Modern presidential campaigns are not about abstractly droning on and on about issues. They are not about taking some sort of high road while the other side is negatively defining what you are all about in the media. What they are about is image.

Already the Obama campaign's ignoring of the media cycle and sole concentration
on grass roots endeavors has allowed Steve Schmidt (McCain's new Rove) to steal the Obama campaign motto of "change." The Obama campaign seems not to understand what they are up against. Obama is always deferring to McCain as an honorable man. In debate, Obama is always pointing out how right McCain is and won't answer personal attacks. Biden, who as VP running mate, is supposed to be an attack dog,
also keeps going on about what a great guy McCain is.

This allowance of the other side to demonize you with no effective response is the same weak and passive strategy that has doomed the last two Democratic attempts for the White House. The only reason Obama is only a few points ahead of McCain  is because of the recent economic collapse. Obama should be way up in the polls. Why is he not? Because his strategy is weak and passive and he refuses to go on  the attack.

And attack is the name of the game!!!Negative campaigning is the most effective strategy there is. It's been the lesson of the last eight years. Negative campaigning could be especially effective for Obama because his attacks would be factual unlike the other side. There is so much ammunition. It is a crime not to use it.

First of all, McCain should be shown to be in the pocket of the lobbyists who caused the Wall Street fiasco. McCain's role in the Keating scandal - his trying to silence the regulators should be demonstrated in attack ads using video clips. Show video of McCain and Gramm. McCain should be shown to be completely inept at foreign policy - all you have to do is show the video of Lieberman whispering in McCain's ear that McCain had mixed up Sunni and Shia. Show video of McCain's wife talking about the jet she bought for him. A constant barrage of video clips would destroy  the "maverick" image of McCain/Palin.

Instead, the McCain campaign knows it can attack Obama with impunity. They can attack his character and smear with him Ayers, etc. They know the Obama campaign is weak and clueless and won't really smear back. Just a few weak threats. This doesn't have to be. There is so much ammunition to use against McCain - it is criminal not to use it.

There are only a couple of weeks left. Please convey to Obama campaign higher-ups that now is the time for Obama to take his gloves off. The American people will  respond to a candidate who fights with his bare knuckles for what he believes. This aloof business has got to be put on hold. If my concerns are not heeded, Obama will soon join Dukakis, Gore, and Kerry in the ash-bin of failed presidential contenders.

The most defining moment of the last presidential campaign was when Kerry was on the stump during the Swift Boat smear, a little old lady spoke up at  a Kerry rally and asked Kerry why he wasn't standing up for himself and attacking back. Kerry just looked at her cluelessly and mumbled some gibberish. Please don't let this happen this year. This campaign is bigger than Obama or any of us. He has got to act now.