McCain’s campaign suspension: three thoughts
Thursday, September 25th, 2008First of all, the “suspension” is nothing of the kind. McCain’s surrogates will continue to stump for him, the 527 ads like this one will continue, and so will the massive undercurrent of email invective insinuating that Obama’s a Muslim, that he hates Christianity, etc., etc. Sure, I know McCain can claim he’s not directly linked to any of this: but that’s the point. You can’t just turn a presidential campaign OFF. Except as an exercise in political theater.
Second, McCain’s move will take the oft-heard “Obama’s playing politics with the issues” argument to reductio ad absurdum levels, since it literally will no longer be possible for Obama to discuss the issues (ANY issues) without getting accused by the GOP of playing politics. Meanwhile McCain can grandstand all he wants.
Third, while the suspension is an act of total cynicism, it may actually work. But don’t look to today’s polls/tea-leaves to see whether it is. We’re entering uncharted waters now, and God only knows how all the intrigue on Capitol Hill across the next few days is going to look to confused centrist voters. They may yet hail McCain as a statesman.
