The American Spectator

No, this time around, the Democrats look slow and clueless. This may not continue. The McCain camp may stumble, or a well-plotted surprise may blow up in their faces. But so far, they’ve got the golden touch. They’re setting the public and media agenda. So long as the McCain camp keeps it up, they can win.

In addition, the Democrats seem determined to paint McCain as “four more years” or as Bush II (or III). And he is not, not ideologically, not in his tactics, not in his campaign strategy. It benefits McCain to have the Democrats attacking an imaginary enemy, while the real opponent runs them over.

Now McCain has made an inspired choice of running mate with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Let’s see what the convention delivers. The Democrats left a lot of room for the Republicans to supply some happiness and hoopla (as Peggy Noonan has pointed out), and McCain may just deliver.

WE’RE IN THE HOME STRETCH NOW, forgive the cliche. McCain has found his stride; Obama has lost his footing. It’s awfully hard to turn a race around that has been clearly defined so late. We may well look back on the last week of August and say, that’s where McCain won it. Right there.