I do get the feeling that the Obama campaign is planning a major October blitzkrieg.

There have been hints -- Axlerod said something about a "horserace" -- that its better to lay back, stay close then hit him hard down the stretch. Obama made a comment recently -- something about McCain has no idea what he is up against. Obama also made another statement recently that he may not be the first to strike but he will not be the last.

These all suggest a major "shock and awe" offensive coming in October that may totally overwhelm McCain. I have my theories what it could be. I suspect part of it will be a public rollout of some big name endorsements from the Republican/Independent side -- Powell, Hagel, Bloomberg, and more. Also a massive ad campaign hitting McCain hard where it hurts -- no punches pulled. Any other ideas?

I see lots of McCain ads. I wonder if he will have enough to compete down the line?

But that may not be as effective as ads coming directly from the McCain campaign. The money crunch will also affect his day-to-day operations limiting his ability to cover all the competitive states. The Obama "50 state" strategy will stretch McCain his limit.

It's an 8-10 state strategy : Ohio, Indiana, Florida, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Virginia, Missouri and maybe, but not likely, North Carolina and Montana. They are all Repuke states from 2004. That's where Obama will do the stretching of McCain's dollars.

The RNC will take up some of the slack, but they must also help with their house and senate races of which there many under threat of defeat and a lot of those are in very expensive media markets.

The press now has the bit in its teeth and it's all out war! Obama just needs to keep visible, keep pounding the "lies" meme and of course, McCain just needs to keep on lying, because he can't do anything else!

This thing is falling apart BADLY for the rethuglicans. And they are bringing themselves down! It's wonderful just to stand back and watch it happen.

Karma is SUCH a bitch!

I am sure they will keep it up.

that would be fantastic.

But isn't there a point where the race is essentially locked in? I could be wrong.

I trust them to it, actually. Hell, they're the professionals. I think they're running a fine campaign.

I think there is a solid ~40% for Obama and a solid ~40% for McCain. The remaining 20% will determine the election.

Probably not sure where to start with all the possiblities.

McCain is going to be buried under a blizzard of attacks from now to the election. He won't know what hit him and he won't be able to catch a breath. It's on NOW. Watch.

The effect could be dulled and forgotten by election day. They want the attacks to be fresh in the voters mind when they step into the voting booth.

There will be fresh stuff rolled out regularly from now until the election.

Which is what I think the OP is focusing on. The real attacks by Obama are yet to come and will most likely come in October. However, the attacks now are coming from the pissed off MSM.

get amazed -- like when the convention reached the crescendo. So you are probably right.

I think O has maintained an honorable campaign. The computer illiteracy ad is probably
an exception. I loved it - but it did border on personal attack. I bet Obama didn't
want to use it - but probably got pressured.

I have never doubted them. They beat the best in the primaries and they will beat the GOP in the general.

I hope he's as feirce as I know he can be!

certain. I hope it is so But, I always think that there are so many
competing interests that no one sees it as crystal clear as it appears
to be to me.

He can beat McCain. If the attacks come strong in October, mostly handcuffing McCain to Bush, the sentiment will be fresh on November 4th.

He loathes McCain.

His endorsement would be nice.

because this would be a very good endorsement to have.

voting starts. Obama, Axelrod, Plouffe are way too smart not to know this though.

The Ohio early voting could swing the election to Obama.

I like the idea of a Obama doing a germano blitzkrieg on the party built on racism kkk krazy.

There are numerous models that base likelihood of victory on the leader well before election day. Late comebacks are largely a myth, far more unlikely than we want to concede.

That was the same crap from Kerry in 2004, that he was a closer. Lawrence O'Donnell said that so often I wanted to scream. Yeah, Kerry was a closer in Massachusetts, a heavily Democratic state. That had no bearing on closing in a nation with 21% liberals, 33% conservatives and against an incumbent.

Besides, stretch runners have all the worst of it. If they're going to make a sports analogy, at least try a competent one. There's a reason American thoroughbreds are bred for speed these days. And any horse race fan can tell you than in a one-on-one match race, speed is by far the most significant variable.

You want the damn lead. I'm still expecting a victory but this crew is making me squirm more and more every day with weak commercials and less than brilliant comments.

He seems like the kind of guy who waits and bids his time when it's just right.

he is apparently outspending Obama in Pennsylvania 2-1

If Obama comes out with a stream of attacks and in Pennsylvania of all of them. McCain just screwed himself.