McCain Tips Hand, May Run Dishonorable Campaign

from MyDD
Jonathan Singer

The common wisdom among many is that in the case that Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee, the GOP hit machine will work as follows:

A Republican crosses the line in attacking Obama, the media repeats the attacks over and over and over again in questioning whether it is right for the attacks to be put forward, John McCain quasi-denounces the attack, then a subsequent round of discussion (and replaying the attacks) goes on in the media. In such a situation, the attacks get out without McCain looking bad. Indeed, we've seen such a game play out surrounding an attack ad revolving on Reverend Wright that the North Carolina Republican Party is attempting to put on the air.

But there is a flaw with this common wisdom: McCain's clear willingness to resort to the lowest common denominator on his own. Take a look at the candidate's own words today:

All I can tell you Jennifer is that I think it's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president of the United States. So apparently has Danny Ortega and several others. I think that people should understand that I will be Hamas's worst nightmare.... If senator Obama is favored by Hamas I think people can make judgments accordingly.

(Continued here.)