Calm down. I say that in advance, because unless John McCain is politically stupid, he's likely going to do something in tonight's debate designed to change up what appears at this point to a completely unwinnable electoral map, if not a blowout.
He may bring up Ayers, now that Obama has boxed him into doing so or looking like a coward. He may lie about ACORN. He may accuse Obama of running a horribly negative campaign. He may bring up Odinga and Kenya. He may blame Fannie & Freddie and black people for the entire Wall Street crisis (again). He may lie about any number of other things and shatter all previously stretched bounds of credibility. He may do all the above. Heck, if I were in his electoral position and had so little honor and human decency as to eternally besmirch my good name with an (R) badge, I probably would do all of the above.
Because more than anything else, McCain needs a game changer. He's losing badly, and just about any change in the race is superior to the status quo with which he's working. It's possible that McCain may put on the face of a happy warrior in uncertain times, in a vain attempt to regain the stability edge from Obama. I find that unlikely, however--and it would be a foolish strategy. More likely, he will attempt to do something to generate headlines, and entirely predictable outrage from everyone on the left.
Don't give him the satisfaction. Tempting as it may be to take whatever McCain says tonight and obsessively refute every word of it in an excrudescence of outrage, the fact is that the American people have already decided they're voting against the Republicans no matter what spew comes out of the their collective mouths. All we can possibly do by taking McCain seriously tonight is to reinforce discussion of whatever distraction he attempts to make as the clock runs down on this race.
There are times to engage, and times to disengage. When your opponent is a serious threat and in good tactical position, engagement is absolutely crucial. But when your opponent is a desperate, unstable mess, it's generally best to get out of the way and let him take himself out of the picture. Don't argue with an idiot, lest you look like one. And never, never punch down when you can't otherwise be caught.
So whatever happens tonight, folks, just take a deep breath, relax, and laugh.
Then get back to work blogging about the real issues of the campaign, making those GOTV calls, donating whatever funds you have, and stomping the GOP into the ground. McCain and his empty words tonight are irrelevant. Be cool. He can't catch us unless we play down to his level.