……

I suspect Obama is starting to wear out his welcome in people’s homes thanks to his 40 gazillion TV and radio ads. It’s now “All Obama, All of the Time.” I can’t speak for anyone else, but Obama now strikes me as a fast-talking and pushy salesman who’s trying waaaaaaay too hard to close a deal. I’ve met guys like Obama and when they start pulling that act, all the red flags go up–that’s when I get up and say, “Thanks, but I need to sleep on this. I’ll call you back later.”

We’ll see what happens on November 4th, but I suspect a lot of Americans are now muttering, “Why does Obama want to be President so much that he keeps getting in our faces every five minutes?” I suspect the “confidence” supposedly exuded by the Obama Campaign is actually masking titanic insecurity and borderline paranoia.

I think the pundits and media wanted to give the last debate to McCain, but the polls and MediaCurve dials didn’t let them. Everyone agreed it was his best.

I seriously think the McCain of Letterman the other day could have beaten Obama hands down, the McCain you may not agree with, but that you like. His campaign, and his own attitude and body language have made him into the bitter old man, the curmudgeon that people don’t want to be around, and don’t want to entrust their children to.

The campaign’s focus on non-issues has been astounding, and McCain’s demeanor, his resentment, anger, and irascibility have been self-defeating. The right feels anger at the way Palin has been treated and the way the credit crisis has been handled, but I don’t see the rest of America wanting to see that as the default attitude of their president. Reagan was firm, but not angry. Bush in 2000 was firm, but not angry. Kerry was wooden, but when he emoted, it was anger, which the left felt, but it didn’t capture anyone else. Palin isn’t angry. People that hate her don’t hate HER, they hate what she represents to them, which is the anger of social conservatives who want to deny women the right to an abortion (I’m not suggesting which is the correct position, but’s what they’re feeling), the right for queers to marry (again, not judging, just pointing out), the right of queers to have “civil unions” (which is the most supported position on polls), and of course the campaign is having her say stupid things about “real” America. However outraged her supporters are, she’s having a wonderful time, loves to be doing what she’s doing, and is winking, not rolling her eyes.

McCain has missed one opportunity after another against a guy who went up against the Clinton fundraising machine and beat it. The campaign hasn’t managed to focus on a message that reaches to everybody, or at least the middle class. Independents usually break to the right, so McCain’s “surge” among independents to continuing below Obama looks like another barometer of missed opportunities. Palin exudes confidence, even if the left think it is misplaced. McCain exudes irritability. It’s been a disaster.