The General Election

Hillary is still talking about battling all the way to theMr. McCain, of Arizona, will spend the next week
White House, but that rhetoric is about as serious anddelivering a series of speeches on global warming,
sensible as the "right wing conspiracy" claims that she'sevidence of his intention to battle Mr. Obama for
posited for years. The truth is, both Obama andindependent voters, a group the two men have laid
McCain are now gearing up for the five month push toclaim to. Those voters tend to recoil from hard-edged
November and that means new battle plans for both.partisan politics, and presumably would be receptive to
In a sign of what could be an extremely unusual fallthe kind of bipartisan forum that Mr. McCain and Mr.
campaign, the two sides said Saturday that they wouldObama seemed open to on Saturday.
be open to holding joint forums or unmoderatedWhile global warming is an important issue, it's certianly
debates across the country in front of voters throughnot in my top 5 critical issues.
the summer. Mr. Obama, campaigning in Oregon, saidClearly concerned that questions about such things as
that the proposal, floated by Mr. McCain's advisers,his association with his former pastor had damaged his
was "a great idea."standing with independents, Mr. Obama, of Illinois, is
I wonder if they can keep it civil?likely to embark on a summertime tour intended to
Even before Mr. Obama fully wraps up thehighlight the life story that was once central to his
Democratic presidential nomination, he and Mr. McCain,appeal. Preliminary plans include a stop in Hawaii, his
the presumptive Republican nominee, are starting tobirthplace, and a major address there at Punchbowl
assemble teams in the key battlegrounds, developCemetery, where his maternal grandfather, who
negative advertising and engage each other in earnestfought in World War II, is buried.
on the issues and a combustible mix of other topics,At least it's refreshing to not have Hillary in the mix any
including age and patriotism. Hey it's over, Rasmussenmore- running for president that is.
says so! :-)And maybe we can get Bubba off the front page as
Age and patriotism? Hmm. Maybe somewhat civil?well. He deserves some time of. Take a decade!