The CW this morning seems to anticipate fireworks (any one see today’s cover of the New York Daily News?) in the last presidential debate tonight: another Hail Mary pass from John McCain, though in exactly what form is anybody’s guess. As Maureen Dowd noted on GMA: McCain needs a big rabbit out of a small hat.
The Obama campaign is stoking those expectation with a memo out this morning entitled, “John McCain’s plan to “whip” “That One’s” “you-know-what.”” (See after the jump for full memo.) Certainly, game changing final debates have happened before. But Reagan and Carter hadn’t been through the 40+ debates we’ve had this cycle. Both Obama and McCain have had a lot of practice as they’ve proven in the last two rounds.
The debate, held at Hofstra University on Long Island, is focused on domestic issues and McCain has already hinted he’ll bring up Ayers, but unless he unveils some new and surprising link between the 60s radical and Obama, that’s more of a regular toss for McCain than a Hail Mary pass. Stephanopoulos guesses at some other potential surprises:
Could McCain pledge to serve only one term? Could he challenge Obama to more debates? Could he announce a bi-partisan cabinet?
Meanwhile, there’s some speculation that heavy early voting may make any kind game changer too late. After all, no matter what happens tonight, if it’s already in the mail you can’t change your vote.
