How Obama can beat McCain

If Obama is the Democratic nominee, he should argue that a vote for McCain is a vote for George Bush's third term.  Not only would this turn centrists against McCain, but it would also split the GOP base if McCain tries to distance himself from Bush. 

Rhetorically, this could be done with examples like this:  Do you want a federal government of checks and balances and power shared with Congress and the judiciary, or do you want a third term of George Bush's imperial presidency?  Do you want a federal government that will respond immediately to natural disasters or a third term of George Bush's incompetent presidency?  Do you want a government that speaks the truth to the American people or a third term of George Bush's lying and document-destroying presidency.  Do you want a government that realizes that too large a share of the costs of government has been shifted by the Republicans onto the Middle Class, or do you want a third term of George Bush's elitist presidency?  Do you want a federal government that awards contracts to the best-qualified and lowest-cost bidders or a third term of George Bush's crony presidency?  Do you want . . . or a third term of George Bush's . . . presidency? 

This strategem wouldn't work for Hillary because she is already portrayed as the candidate for Bill's third term.  Emphasizing that would diminish Hillary and help McCain unify and energize his base. 

Update on Friday, May 30, 2008 at 12:42PM by Skeptic

I think we're going to see a lot of this image of an awkward Bush-McCain hug.  It would make a good poster or yard sign and needs no words at all to be devastating to McCain.