Nailing a sneezing maverick

[dipsydoodle]

In times of crisis you really need a maverick at the top. Or perhaps, the American people are beginning to wonder, not. In the swing states they are swinging away from McCain. The candidate's behaviour is surely the cause of this, rather than any new Obama effort. For McCain to go on television with his dramatic statement but not mention that Obama had called him earlier in the day was simply bizarre. Did he think the Obama people would forget? Or not mention it? I talked to a senior Republican a few weeks ago who said "I hope John doesn't catch a cold" - well, he has. He is sneezing and his party is worried.

This measured piece makes sense and there will be plenty more partisan attacks out there. Now if he goes to the debate he will look as if he has been dragged there; if he doesn't go he will look frightened. This is an unhappy situation he has created entirely for himself. To panic and dash about the nation suspending campaigns and mentioning 9/11 will seem odd to most Americans. President Bush looked much calmer and Barack Obama - with his laconic observation that presidents have to be able to focus on more than one thing at a time - nailed him. There is plenty of time for the tables to be turned but this is Obama's week - a strong debate showing would put him in a very strong postion for the final month of campaigning ....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/