A Campaign Holiday?

This week begins the two-month campaign slow-down between the July 4th Holiday and the Democratic and Republican Conventions. The collective attention of the public will turn more to summer beach getaways and the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing than politics. As with almost every presidential election, a candidate can't win the race during this time, but one sizable slip-up can certainly lose it.

It's during this campaign lull when a candidate can be irreparably branded, so it's important to stay on the offensive and respond quickly to attacks. In 2004, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth emerged during the summer to undermine John Kerry's military record. In 1988, it was this summer calm that saw George H.W. Bush unleash Willie Horton on Michael Dukakis, forever branding him as soft on crime.

Going into this break, both candidates have very clear plans for where they'd like to be positioned entering the two weeks of conventions in late-August and early-September, and for the two-month sprint to Election Day that will follow.

From NBC's First Read:

McCain's goal for these next two months: to have this a low single-digit race by September 5. Obama's goal is more obvious: 1) to begin erasing character doubts about himself, 2) bankrupting McCain financially in the lean red states, and 3) building not only a national lead but double-digit leads in as many states as he can.

So, while campaign coverage may take something of a holiday from its highs of the past months, don't expect to see Barack Obama or John McCain relaxing on a beach between now and September. They'll both be busy jockeying for position and doing their best not to let the other's attack machine brand them as unelectable.

Comments

[Good Sport Aussie]

Along with the rest of the world, I am watching, waiting and hopeing that Barack Obama will restore the moral integrity of the USA. Be smart America.....lose the idea that the only person who can be your CinC is someone who has been a professional warmonger. Gen. Wesley Clark is correct....being brave and courageous is laudible and honourable but being smart, honest and morally true is needed much more. Military men (and even ex military types) think strength can only be shown from threats, "sabre rattling" and then behaving like the schoolyard bully. There are certainly other motivational methods available and Barack Obama is smart enough to know a few alternatives.