Maine Owl

"Taxman"


Obama better come up with an answer

"Higher taxes, higher gas prices, economic disaster."

Whoa. This is some powerful stuff McCain is peddling. Ads with a message very similar to this one are running in southern Maine, probably because of the proximity to swing state New Hampshire. It's traditional anti-tax technique coupled with deft transferrance of the harms of decades of Republicanism away from the Republicans. Basically the idea is to hang the last eight years around Obama's neck. Ridiculous? Of course.

The gas prices actually constitute a huge levy on the public for Bush's wars. But will Obama attack back in kind with a strong enough counter-message that it is actually McCain who wants to continue the wars ad infinitum? I haven't seen it yet.

Obama has tried to explain that his economic plan intends a mild restructuring of taxes so the rich pay a few cents more. That would be a step in the right direction. But he better get out there with a strong "fairness" message while drawing a picture of McCain as purveyor of endless war. Otherwise, these ads will set in and Obama will have no hope of shaking enough voters free from the grip of the Republican confusion machine.

More commentary just out describes the weakness of the recent Obama campaign in the face of this Republican onslaught: Progressives Sound Alarm About Obama Campaign. With McCain so inconsistent and so lacking in solutions, the disturbing trend is that, according to Josh Marshall, "The lack of any consistent lines of attack against McCain is becoming palpable."

I couldn't agree more. For evidence about what is happening, go look at the erosion over at the 538 poll tracker. Now the fellow who runs that site is arguing that Obama has a great ground game and that somehow shows the campaign is also great. However, the erosion in the polls is unmistakable. If this is turning into the August disaster that was the Swiftboated Kerry campaign of four years ago remains to be seen. But if I was hoping beyond all hope for an Obama presidency, I'd be worried.