It is wise for the Obama campaign to avoid attacking Palin alone; they know it will provoke a protective reflex in key voting sectors, and it casts McCain into the sympathetic role of a protective father. They are right to try and focus the campaign back on McCain, but given the current national psycho-drama surrounding Palin at this point, that might be impossible.

The best choice is to attack them both together. Instead of repeating that McCain is four more years of Bush, let's say that McCain/Palin would be four more years of Bush/Cheney.  Attacking any one of Palin's weaknesses alone can appear desperate and even petty, but add them into a collage with Bush's & McCain's weaknesses and they create  patterns of weakness that are mutually reinforcing and powerfully damning.

Attack Palin repeatedly --never on experience,  but could we try to attack her on seriousness? Only attack her in connection with parallel attacks on Bush, Cheney & McCain. Such a strategy does elevate Palin in stature, yes, but we're going to have elevate her before we can knock her down. The sooner we do this, the better, otherwise she will be perpetually exceeding expectations.

Here are bones to several ads. This is just a start, add more if you wish...

What would four more years of the same look like?


1. Repeating the same falsehoods over and over until the people believe they are true...( Flashes of WMD quotes,
"rejection of the Bridge to Nowhere quotes,  the blue skies initiative, lies about Obama tax plan etc.

2. Secret meetings, hirings and firings: (flash:  US Atty firings, Troopergate., Cheney energy meeting, McCain Keating 5.etc etc)

3.Obstruction of Justice: (flashes: Palin withholds emails, White House deletes emails. McCain's votes to protect White House.etc)

4,  Massive deficits to serve lobbyist, special interest with out of control pork barrel spending: ( Flash: Palin holding BTNowhere Tshirt, Palins Wasilla record, Pictures of Abramoff etc.)

5. A war we cannot afford based on ignorance and arrogance (quotes all round)

6.A complete lack of seriousness about US foreign policy. (McCain's "Bomb Bomb Iran" clip--no need to mention Palin here.

7.  Who is going to keep him in line now? (juxtaposition of McCain Lieberman Shiite /Sunni flub, and any of Palin's present and future gaffes.)

Attack Palin where McCain is strong. Attack McCain where Palin is weak. The McCain camp will have a terrible time untangling it enough to respond.