I just ran across this article on The American Prospect and thought it could use more attention. The basic thrust of the article is that Democrats expect to win because of the issues, while Republicans turn the election to character where they are on more even footing.
But the world is the world. Republicans understand the world, and Democrats do not. Republicans know that voters will respond emotionally to character questions, and they know that the media will lap them up like a thirsty dog. Democrats keep thinking that voters will do something as improbably nutritional as study a health care plan (as, surely, a scattered few do), and that the media will show themselves eager to write articles and broadcast discussion segments about health care plans. Both assumptions are folly.
But why am I telling you this? Just read the article
Now I'm not as down on the campaign as some around here, but this article certainly shows why things aren't going as swimmingly as we all expected.
I always thought that if you just hammer the issues that the people would understand and vote for you. Sadly, this election cycle has taught me a valuable lesson. If we want to get back in control of things, we're going to have to do some of the dirty work that Republicans have been doing for years.