Just when we thought the next big campaign news would break with a text from 62262, out comes the unstoppable gaffe-machine that is John McCain. You know the story: a Politico reporter asked him a simple enough question- how many houses he owns- and McCain stumbly avoided giving an answer and ultimately referred the reporter to his staff. While some are inevitably going to see this as a non-issue and downplay its significance, the reactions of the Obama campaign and the media prove this story is huge and if played right could provide Obama the populist legs he needs to win this election.

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Up until now, the prevailing contention among politicos and talking heads was that Obama’s running mate should be a “safe” pick: one who wouldn’t alienate anybody and assuage some Democrats’ fears regarding Obama’s supposed inexperience. But with the characteristics of this presidential campaign clearly changing, and the once-comfortable Obama lead transforming into a dead heat, such an argument no longer holds water. It’s increasingly clear that the McCain campaign can only win by relentlessly barraging Obama with attack ads, questioning his experience and painting him as too unknown to be trusted with the presidency. Against this backdrop, Obama can neutralize this claims and rebound in the polls by tapping the tenacious and eminently capable Hillary Clinton for the running mate spot.

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One of the things we’re going to use this blog for is providing commentary and opinions on the constantly changing election campaign. With the VP announcements and nominating conventions looming, I think this is as good a time as any to take stock of the campaign thus far.

For months now, the American people have been deluged with polls showing a modest but consistent Obama edge. The electorate’s priorities remained remarkably stable, with a economic fears giving Democrats an invaluable advantage over their spendthrift colleagues on the other side of the aisle. With the dog days of summer upon us, the public’s attention turned to diversions like the Olympics, and in time many of us became complacent and content with the fragile lead our candidates enjoyed.

All of that changed as Russian tanks and aircraft commenced their barrage of neighboring Georgia. The often underestimated McCain campaign deftly seized on this opportunity to showcase their candidate’s perceived knowledge of foreign policy. At the same time, ads criticizing Obama for his celebrity-like following blared out of televisions nationwide. The conservative puppet Jerome Corsi issued another inaccurate and slanderous expose of Obama’s past, which promptly skyrocketed to bestseller status. Where was the Obama campaign’s political mastery during all of this? On vacation in Hawaii.

The last straw perhaps was Pastor Rick Warren’s faith forum at the Saddleback Megachurch, where Obama, fresh off the beach, appeared overly nuanced and unable to answer Warren’s questions with the same pointedness that characterized McCain’s replies. Today polls show all of these events have eroded Obama’s once dependable lead, making the race a virtual tie.

Political minds, like the ones who read this page, tend to fret over news like this. They see the decline in Obama’s numbers and immediately begin second-guessing their nominee’s abilities, skills, and even intelligence. Many wonder “how could the same Obama who executed arguably the largest upset in Democratic primary history now be tied with a delusional, trigger happy, out of touch conservative sellout?” For those of you out there who share these worries, I want you to remember a few things.

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