What McCain Must Do Tonight

With polls showing John McCain behind in more than a handful of states President Bush won in 2004, his chances at getting elected are growing ever slimmer. In the last six presidential elections, the person ahead in the polls four weeks out won. Clearly, neither of the previous debates (presidential and vice presidential) have done McCain a bit of good. The slide continued or accelerated without interruption.

What this means going into tonight’s debate is that McCain needs to deliver more than ever — some say it could be his last chance. Despite a silver lining in the daily Diageo/Hotline poll today showing McCain making up ground and the race tightening again (Obama-Biden 46 percent, McCain-Palin 44 percent, undecided 9 percent), McCain better get to work.

What can he do that he hasn’t done yet? A lot. McCain’s bold campaign, which has at times succeeded in changing the subject and depressing Barack Obama’s support, looks like a bold failure right now. I have listed the reasons in this space too many times recently to repeat them again. But McCain can get away from the bold, desperate tactics that aren’t working and get back to being himself, and he must.

McCain is known for getting knocked down and always coming back. He has been able to do so by being tenacious, persuasive and, above all, optimistic. In tonight’s town hall forum, McCain must get back to his message: that he has the true bipartisan record, that he fights to the finish for what he believes is right, and that to do the right thing, he has been willing to lose.

From what we have seen from McCain recently — stunts, gimmicks, panic and a willingness to do anything to win, this challenge will clearly be hard to meet. But if he doesn’t look not only at Obama, but right into the eyes of the voters, and tell them why he is the person they can most trust to deliver in this perilous time for our country at home and overseas, he won’t get another chance.

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