McCain wanted Obama to take the public money so his hands would be tied against the 527's.

[bluestateguy]

McCain had no plans to shut down the 527's (which can rake in unlimited donations and spend as they please) that are already setting up to trash Obama mercilessly. Of course he wanted a deal to force Obama on the public money. That way he'd be limited in his ability to fight back against the 527's.

The Swift Boaters (a 527) trapped Kerry last time around. Kerry got his public money in late July after the convention and had to make that money last until election day. Bush, however, didn't get his public money until early September, after his convention. This meant that Bush could keep on spending at will until then with primary season money, which was not capped because he never took public money for the primaries. So, if Kerry had gone after the Swifties in August with public money, he's already be at a monetary disadvantage vis a vis Bush by time Bush got his public money in September. Or Kerry could ignore the Swift Boaters, save his money, but let their attacks go unanswered. The Swiftboaters knew how to set this trap, and that's why they went on the air in early August.

If Kerry had not been bound by the public money and its spending limits, things might have been different.

[Oceansaway]

1. i agree...n/t

[anonymous171]

2. Yep. That is why the MSM is hammering him on this, because now he can win.

[Mz Pip]

3. Yep

I agree. McCain so much as said he couldn't control the 527s which to me was just a wink and a nod to them.

Obama definitely out maneuvered McCain on this one. And so far it doesn't look like the big Repug moneymen are opening up their wallets to fund any 527s in McCain's behalf. It may still happen but given the state of things in the McCain campaign I wonder how many of them are willing to throw their money down a rat hole.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. The GOP were caught by surprise and they are screaming