What advice would YOU give to Obama & McCain?

[Buford]

Here is something different.

Take off your party hats for a minute and think about each guy as if they hired you to consult. What would you suggest?

• I would suggest that while Iraq would be attractive for Obama to talk about. He should focus on the economy where he is stronger than McCain. Also, he should get on TV with something like 60 min, and talk about Rev Wright and the questionable folks connected to him. Get in front of it.

• I would suggest to McCain to drop the Jimmy Carter line with the goofy laugh afterwards. It just makes him look old. Only political junkies and old folks understand what he's talking about. It also leaves him open to the whole "How old was he in 1976?" stuff.

[Burgold]

I would have McCain bluntly and objectively outline all the difficulties faced by the United States and how we got there fixing the blame when appropriate on Bush and then pick three or four key areas of problem where he's in contrast to Bush and hammer at how he would fix them in a Republican/Conservative way that demonstrates he is different from Bush, but also a better option than Obama.

If I were to advise Obama, I would have focus on his strengths that is talking about solutions within the context of a problem. I think I would suggest he would be a little more scripted. He tends to be too honest and thoughtful. That could be a good thing except he tends to be a little clumsy and convoluted when trying to explain himself. He tries to answer the questions he is actually being asked and politicians aren't supposed to do that.

[PeterMP]

Obama needs to come up with real policy measures that will resonate with moderates.

McCain needs to move on the middle on the Iraq war in particular. He said he's for staying in Iraq essentially indefinitely IF there were no American casualties. The flip side of that is, what happens if there are still considerable American casualties through 2008 and into 2009. How many is too many and what is the solution if we approach too many?

If I were McCain, I'd also try and talk Biden into being Sec. State w/ a prime time talk at the convention on foreign policy only.

If I were Obama, I'd try and do the samething with a well known Republican (presumably a non-neo con (is James Baker to old to be Sec. State) (I still believe if Bush I had won that election, and he'd stayed on as Sec. State the ME would be dramatically different today)).

I'd be happy if either one would actually tell me why the prices of things are going up that are out pacing inflation (e.g. college and healthcare) and how their plans were actually going to prevent that in the future vs. just passing the rising cost onto goverment (Obama) or pretending that something isn't likely to work would actually address the issue (McCain).

[PeterMP]

He tries to answer the questions he is actually being asked and politicians aren't supposed to do that.

Want to give an example?

[zoony]

I think I would tell them both, "It's the economy, stupid"

For Obama, I would strongly encourage him to choose a running mate that was ex-military.

I think government spending and fiscal responsibility are also very hot topics among voters right now.

[Kilmer17]

If I was McCain, I would show a picture of gas stations signs on the day the Dems took over Congress. 2.19 a gallon national average. Then a picture of the same gas station today, 18 months later. 4.09 National Average. I'd make this campaign about the problems in America. I'd also include this line in every speech- "If Barack Obama would like to debate George Bush about the last 8 years, he can call him. If he would like to debate ME about the direction of the NEXT 8 years, I'm ready anytime.

For Obama, I'd tell him to stay positive. One of the things he can win with is being the opposition that disagrees without hate. I'd also tell him to avoid debating McCain for as long as possible, and try to avoid it altogether.

[zoony]

If I was McCain, I would show a picture of gas stations signs on the day the Dems took over Congress. 2.19 a gallon national average. Then a picture of the same gas station today, 18 months later. 4.09 National Average. I'd make this campaign about the problems in America.

But where would he go with that if someone called him on it? Can he prove it's because of the Democrats? Seems to me it's mostly futures trading and speculation.

I'd also include this line in every speech- "If Barack Obama would like to debate George Bush about the last 8 years, he can call him. If he would like to debate ME about the direction of the NEXT 8 years, I'm ready anytime.

That one is great

[Kilmer17]

Nobody can prove it either way. But it's a good response to the Dems attempt to make him an extension of Bush.

[Buford]

But where would he go with that if someone called him on it? Can he prove it's because of the Democrats? Seems to me it's mostly futures trading and speculation.



That one is great

Agreed. That was a great line Kilmer

[Burgold]

Want to give an example?

One example would be his San Francisco controversy. He was in a private meeting with people he thought was his supporters and someone asked, Hey, why aren't we connecting with Pennsylvanians. Obama begins pontificating about why that might be. It winds up being a great soundbite for the Hillary and the Republicans and began the elitist thing. I've seen him do similar things in interviews all the time. Great for academic discussion or even problem solving, but poor for politics which all too often these days are about gamesmanship.