Gimmicks Don't Work

Come to think of it....Tina Fey would have been a better choice

We stand less than two weeks away from the election and the latest poll from NBC and the Wall Street Journal shows Obama opening up a 10-point lead over McCain. What has stalled McCain's traction in the polls? What has been the top reason his campaign has been stymied? What is the main concern voters have about a potential McCain presidency?

• continuing the disastrous Bush economic policies to benefit the upper 1%?
• not doing enough to protect American jobs?
• slashing Medicare and taxing health care benefits (for the first time ever)?
• providing tax breaks to Big Oil, Big Pharma, etc?
• not simply staying in, but escalating the siege in Iraq?
• continuing the obliviousness of the Bush administration towards the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Al Queda network in Pakistan?

Well, all these are notable factors....but the main reason voters are peeling away from McCain is - his own gambit in selecting a "mavericky", yet thoroughly unqualified vice-presidential candidate:

Now, Palin’s qualifications to be president rank as voters’ top concern about McCain’s candidacy - ahead of continuing President Bush’s policies, enacting economic policies that only benefit the rich and keeping too high of a troop presence in Iraq.

Fifty-five percent of respondents say she’s not qualified to serve as president if the need arises, up five points from the previous poll. In addition, for the first time, more voters have a negative opinion of her than a positive one. In the survey, 47 percent view her negatively, versus 38 percent who see her in a positive light.

That, to me, is a stunning development. The one decision McCain thought would transform his campaign has turned out to be a bigger liability to him than George W. Bush.