"Hi, this is Rudy Giuliani and I'm calling for John McCain and the Republican National Committee, because you need to know that Barack Obama opposes mandatory prison sentences for sex offenders, drug dealers, and murderers. It's true, I read Obama's words myself. And recently, Congressional liberals introduced a bill to eliminate mandatory prison sentences for violent criminals -- trying to give liberal judges the power to decide whether criminals are sent to jail or set free. With priorities like these, we just can't trust the inexperience and judgment of Barack Obama and his liberal allies. This call was paid for by the Republican National Committee and McCain-Palin 2008."

McCain and Palin have stepped up their attacks in the past few days, particularly on the William Ayers and Rev. Jeremiah Wright fronts. While the overwhelming trend is for campaign to become increasingly negative during October, it isn't difficult to assume that the McCain campaign's increased negativity is a direct result of its polling numbers falling off a cliff over the past few weeks:



The real matter is whether McCain's, or rather Palin's (as she is stepping it up in her pit bull role of late) attacks will gain any traction? The problem is not only that Americans are overwhelmingly focused on the economy right now, but that Palin's line of attacks have already been "vetted" in a sense - by Hillary Clinton. My guess is that only a very small fraction of the voting public has yet to be exposed to either the William Ayers or Rev. Wright stories. In effect, McCain and Palin are essentially bringing a knife to a gun fight, as Obama & CO. have held back their best line of attack -- the Keating 5 scandal -- simply waiting for the best opportunity to use the story as a counter attack.

What attack seems more relevant today to the typical American voter who is still undecided?



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