The key for Obama winning in November: DO NOT STAND DOWN TO MCCAIN

[LynneSin]

It's clear that McCain is trying to manipulate these debates because either McCain isn't ready to defend his dismal record and/or put a 'nowhere-near-ready-for-primetime' rookie up against one of the best debaters in the country.

If Obama gives into McCain then Obama will come across weak. It's as simple as that. And these polls that are starting to swing big for Obama will swing back down a bit to McCain. I think Barney Frank summed it up best - this is McCain's 'Hail Mary' pass and I think even McCain is bright enough to know that the only way this play will work is if Obama clears the path for McCain to catch the ball. Obama MUST NOT back down to McCain. If McCain won't show up to the Debates this Friday then Obama should just do a Q&A by himself in Mississippi. And if Palin is not ready to debate, then Biden should do the same exact thing.

The crazy thing is - the republicans had better choices for both President and Vice-President. I think a year ago if someone posted a thread here at DU that McCain would be the republican nominee, we would probably mock that person as being nuts. The republicans had Mitt Rommey and Rudy Giuliani, both who would have been stronger candidates than John McCain. But the Republicans went with McCain and everyone assumed he would pick a strong second choice to solidify his ticket - Mitt or Rudy, or perhaps Ridge or Lieberman, maybe a woman to siphon off female voters with Kay Bailey Hutchison OR if McCain wanted a new face - then Tim Pawlenty. But he picked a novice with very little experience whose only reason she's on the ticket is that she has a set of ovaries. McCain has made mis-step after mis-step and demanding these debates be postponed and pulling his ads is the mother of all mis-steps. Obama can show why he's presidential by not backing down. Because if he backdown to a nimbicle like John McCain, then how is Obama going to stand his ground against real bullies like Russia, Iran, Terrorists or republicans senators.

This is a ticket I have truly been excited over especially since the convention. Sure there are a few things that bugged me but nothing has changed that level of excitement. If Obama backs down, then I don't know, I just feel like the wind will be knocked out of me and out of the Obama campaign.

So please Barack - stand your ground. Do not let this broken man do cheap tricks to pull you down.

[sharp_stick]

1. McCain is counting on Obama to back down

and Obama is going to tell him to go to hell. There is no way I can see Obama agreeing to postpone a debate, even the MSM is starting to call this McCain move a purely political gesture. The begging to postpone the Palin debate is plainly obvious and I think that was the key to the whole gambit. McCains people know she isn't ready and are willing to do anything to give her more time.

The only other positive that McCains assholes are hoping for is diminished expectations. They'll now come out with all kinds of stories that if McCain and Palin are even breathing while on debate it's a win because they're so so concerned about the bailout package. Too little too late IMO, McCain and Palin fatigue is set in.

[LynneSin]

2. He better not - it would totally blow the momentum he has going

and personally I don't think he will. He didn't back down to Hillary when there were threats she would take this to the convention so why would he back down to McCain?

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. OBAMA is standing his ground and will be at the debate and that will

be televised even if McCain doesn't show up.

We know the Obama campaign is one of the smartest we've seen in many decades.

They see an opening and will take it.