Here is a little excerpt from Real Clear Politics:

An old political adage says, “He who sets the debate wins the election.”

If the presidential election was held tomorrow, it would be hello President Barack Obama because, so far, John McCain is handing him a victory.

McCain is better than the campaign he has run so far. Most people admit that McCain is an inspirational figure – even Obama has admitted that – so why isn’t McCain telling voters where he wants to lead them?

Instead, his campaign is all about his opponent.

“He himself is reinforcing that this campaign is all about Obama,” says Democratic strategist Mark Siegel. “His ads and his message are all negatives. The problem with that is, it is driving his own negatives up as well.”

I have to admit that the negativity of the McCain camp was, and still is, bothering me.  The problem is that the more I thought about it the more I saw that there really is no choice for the Republican Party to take.  My belief is that McCain is the stronger candidate with a much stronger resume and better policies and I would love for McCain to be elected based on this but the truth remains that on any but the very conservative web sites Obama’s name is plastered all over the place.  In fact, the only time you see McCain’s name anywhere is when it is associated with an attack on Obama, think how little you would see his name if he didn’t.

Obama knows this to, hence his refusal to meet with McCain in debate except for the 3 traditional (and well structured) debates that allow for a rehearsed response.  An open question forum would be the best way to see both candidates on the issues, their experience, and what they could do for the country.  This would be Obama’s biggest nightmare.  Being the media created celebrity is the only path that Obama has to the White House because running policies based on making sure there is air in your tires won’t cut it on its own.

Things that could be done.   The republicans in congress could take some pressure off of McCain by pointing out the failures of the democrat congress and linking Obama to them, which they have finally started to do.  McCain also needs to allow subordinates to run the majority of the attack ads, McCain need only endorse them not expound upon them.   If McCain doesn’t start to get back to the ideas that got him here, by election time he may very well be known as the empty suit since no one will remember what he stands for by then.