Final Plays for the Presidency

Have you ever played speed chess? It''s the Great Game played with a clock, a.k.a. blitz. It''s strategy in real time, played with limited time. And in the plays for the 2008 presidency, it''s what''s shaping the home stretch to November 4th.

Here''s our analysis of the game each campaign is playing and the moves they might make:

McCain-Palin Play Selection:

• The Plumber''s Screen : You’d think that Joe-the-Plumber is John McCain’s running mate. Either way, he''s the perfect foil to exploit Obama’s ill-advised “spread-the-wealth” sound bite.
• The Socialist Label : “Spread the wealth” gaffe gives Sarah Palin her bridge to somewhere…a Label of Obama as a Socialist.
• The Un-American Ping : The “Socialist” play helps McCain-Palin propel the whisper campaign agaist Obama -- He''s a terrorist, he''s un-American, he''s not a Christian, he''s a Muslim. A well applied Socialist tag makes sense (however thinly) of the other Labels.

Obama-Biden Play Selection:

• Screen the Stats: Barack Obama is leading. Fuel the perception he’s winning. That fuels the "inevitability" coverage. Makes liberal media sound victorious and authoritative. Even better for Obama-Biden, it makes conservative media shrill, desperate.
• (Continue) to Pass on Palin: Let Sarah Palin do everything she’s doing. Her SNL appearance (a Crazy Ivan of her own) was ill-conceived. Her interviews are confirming voter wariness of her readiness.
• Fiat with Abandon: With the Obama fundraising windfall, advertise-advertise-advertise. Spots should be declaratory Fiats more than antagonistic Call Outs to support Obama’s rising status and minimize engagement with a punching-prone McCain.

Click on the left for this playmaker''s free podcast, and tune in to XM POTUS (channel 130) on Fridays at 5:30 p.m. EST each week to hear Plays for the Presidency live.

Post by Alan Kely