As everyone knows, McCain has been going around lying about Obama and a faint association with William Ayers.
FactCheck.org has condemned McCain and his campaign for its ridiculous over the top ads:
FactCheck.org conclusion
Voters may differ in how they see Ayers, or how they see Obama's interactions with him. We're making no judgment calls on those matters. What we object to are the McCain-Palin campaign's attempts to sway voters - in ads and on the stump - with false and misleading statements about the relationship, which was never very close. Obama never "lied" about this, just as he never bragged about it. The foundation they both worked with was hardly "radical." And Ayers is more than a former "terrorist," he's also a well-known figure in the field of education.
After a week of negative attacks, McCain saw that it not only was not producing the results that he desired, but he was experiencing blow back from the media and his own party.
There's something else to note too. Over the last 48 hours several name brand Republicans have come out and either chided or denounced McCain's borderline incitement. And given how taboo it is to level such criticism of your own nominee at this stage of the election you have to assume these criticisms were only the tip of the iceberg, with a far more intense and angry barrage of criticism voiced privately.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/
So, McCain backs of off the charges that he is still making in television ads, which sends a conflicting message to his rabid supporters.
And, Obama does not waste an opportunity to put McCain in a box.
"I want to acknowledge that Senator McCain tried to tone down the rhetoric in his town hall meeting yesterday, and I appreciated his reminder that we can disagree while still being respectful of each other."
Today, Obama acknowledged McCain's shifting tone and offered, "Senator McCain has served this country with honor, and he deserves our thanks for that."
http://blogs.abcnews.com/...
Obama was quick to compliment his opponent and shower him with praise, a love thy enemy approach. This puts McCain in a box. If McCain continues to go the down and dirty approach, then he will be seen to be a hyprocrite and sour loser. If he decides to stop the attacks, he is doomed. Popcorn anyone?