"This election is not about issues," said Davis. "This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."

That exactly mirrors what the Obama campaign has been saying from the outset. From the NYTimes, Obama's Narrator:

Axelrod [Obama's campaign manager] says that the way to cut through all the noise is to see campaigns as an author might, to understand that you need not just ideas but also a credible and authentic character, a distinct politics rooted in personality.

This, Axelrod says, is what Karl Rove understood about George W. Bush. "One of the reasons Bush has succeeded in two elections"...

For Obama, because of Senator Hillary Clinton's far-greater experience and establishment backing, this is a particularly essential project. "If we run a conventional campaign and look like a conventional candidacy, we lose," Axelrod says.

MR. RUSSERT: It is interesting. The Washington Post put up these numbers. Hillary Clinton has an 81 percent approval among Dems; 55 percent approval amongst Independents; 20 with the GOP. You have a 59 percent approval with Democrats; 59 with Independents; and just 56 with Republicans. And what people point to--and this is an article in your hometown paper, the Arizona Republic, "At Odds With Bush. John McCain repeatedly has taken maverick positions that have put him at odds with President Bush's administration, and rankled his party's right wing. ... The fact is you are different than George Bush.

SEN. McCAIN: No. No. I--the fact is that I'm different but the fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed. And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I've been totally in agreement and support of President Bush. So have we had some disagreements on some issues, the bulk--particularly domestic issues? Yes. But I will argue my conservative record voting with anyone's, and I will also submit that my support for President Bush has been active and very impassioned on issues that are important to the American people. And I'm particularly talking about the war on terror, the war in Iraq, national security, national defense, support of men and women in the military, fiscal discipline, a number of other issues. So I strongly disagree with any assertion that I've been more at odds with the president of the United States than I have been in agreement with him.

Davis demurred when asked when Palin will sit for interviews with major news organizations, pointing out that now would not be the right time given the "combative" attitude the media has seemingly adopted toward Palin. Pressed on the issue, Davis insisted that "we allot a lot more access in our campaign than any campaign in modern political history....we'll get around to it."

Comic gold. We didn't vet our prospective Veep, so we sure as hell ain't gonna let any of you pesky press types ask any questions. They sure as hell don't give her much credit, do they?

McCain changed horses because he had to, and the choice, as was agreed on Charlie Rose last night by everyone, is either brilliant or insane.

I remember my family getting a card notifying us that some acquaintances had found a new house.  It claimed that over many months God had helped them find the perfect house.

God is a military commander, a gas line negotiator, and a real estate agent.  Where does he find the time?

She has a theocratic world view--you can see that a mile away.....

For people who like Hillary, any support for Palin doesn't really make a lot of sense....You have to jettison a lot of issues and causes to get there.....

Keep well,