wake up! wake up!!!!!
after losing in 04 in what should have been a slam dunk to a complete moron who'd started a war, one would think dems wouldn't underestimate the importance of NOT fucking this one up.
Analysis: Democratic battle helps McCain
Analysis: Democratic battle helps McCain - Yahoo! News
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - John McCain's standing in the presidential race grows stronger each day as he benefits from the increasingly personal and extraordinarily protracted Democratic nomination fight between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.
Not that he will publicly recognize his advantage.
"I'm glad to be where we are" but "there's a lot of hard work to do," the certain GOP nominee told The Associated Press last week, dismissing the notion that he has an upper hand for the general election as the Democratic primary tussle continues.
Even with the Clinton-Obama struggle,
polls show either candidate would be in a tight race with McCain, who readily lists a host of tall-order tasks ahead. He must raise money to compete with better-funded Democrats, energize a party that was divided over his candidacy, introduce himself to voters beyond his Vietnam war-hero status, and outline a vision amid a call for change after eight years of President Bush.
"There's a sense that we have an opportunity to win the national election when we didn't have a prayer six months ago," said Terry Holt, a Republican and adviser to Bush's re-election campaign.
...there's no question among Republicans and Democrats alike that McCain appears better positioned than he was just weeks ago while Clinton and Obama look more battered every day. While the Republican campaigns without an opponent obstructing him, the two Democrats are engaging in petty spats and confronting credibility-damaging situations — an exaggeration about Bosnia for her, and a former pastor's incendiary remarks for him.
"It's becoming alarming. The daily back and forth is diminishing both Democratic candidates," said Steve Murphy, a Democrat who ran Dick Gephardt's 2004 campaign. Meanwhile, he added: "McCain has carte blanche for a couple of months."
At the very least, the Democratic family feud is elevating McCain.
"He's able to go out there and be the statesman, and that's valuable," said Chris Lehane, a Democrat and former aide to President Clinton.
He said McCain also benefits because there's no Democratic nominee to challenge him on his missteps.