The MSM and Republicans will Begin to Use Obama's Popularity Against Him

It started around the time of Obama's Berlin speech, and it's the underlying thought process going into the "arrogant and presumptuous" meme going around today. They know at the current rate of things, Obama will blow McCain out simply because he's more popular. So they want to turn his popularity into a hindrance.

I personally think Obama needs to stop having backroom meetings, and needs to start going door to door again like he did during the primaries. I know some on DU want to stay in denial, but even Richard Wolffe who usually defends Obama said yesterday that the Obama campaign seems to be getting a little ahead of itself and growing a bit overconfident. Likely reading too much into polls and whatnot. Even Rachel Maddow said Obama's meeting with Bush's economic people was dumb...and I agree with her. Obama is running the risk of overplaying his hand and allowing McCain to come back when he could be putting McCain away during the summer. Which means, I don't think the presumptuous argument is TOTALLY uncalled for (even though the MSM blows everything out of proportion). McCain is holding townhall meetings and taking questions, and Obama is not. It may not have an immediate impact, but over time it may begin to. Then a PPP Michigan poll was released today showing McCain coming back when before Obama held that state solidly. They can't afford to put the cart before the horse and just assume they'll beat McCain easily. Maybe some bad polls are what the Obama campaign needs right now.

they need to get down to the nitty-gritty, CAMPAIGNING, and ATTACKING, like crazy rabid wombats. They don't have much time. And Obama had better get him a GOOD VP pick, one who will come out with both guns blazing and can command some respect.

He should have demanded an apology from McCain for using the troops in Germany as a political football.

Doing so would have exposed McCain's lie AND gotten airplay.

They just did 30 min. of Republican strategists ripping Obama.

will give it free air time. They were afraid that Obama might run away with this, so they're helping out their old buddy by letting him get his attacks out for free.

They must've given him the whole hour!

because Obama isn't out there with ads and speeches pounding it away.

I feel a big swing to McCain if they don't wake the hell up.

hurt them in the long run.

Obama is playing McCain like a cat plays with a mouse. Obama has successfully painted a strong image in the minds of Americans that he can indeed be the president, which was the biggest hurdle that he had to overcome. Could he get the American people to see him as the president. He has put himself on the same level as McCain, and maybe even on a higher level at that.

While the overseas trip didn't hurt, it wasn't some game-changing period either.

"Enough with the big speeches."

It didn't work then either.

Nothing Clinton would have done would have given her the nomination. That's not the case here. And I'm not saying Obama should stop giving big speeches. But he can't forget about the little guy either and allow McCain to come back because he's not taking him seriously. Obama laughed off the Phil Gramm comments and never said anything else about it. When what he should have done is made a major ad about it.