The problem for John McCain

With the election drawing ever nearer, John McCain's campaign staff must be frustrated by their seeming inability to make any sort of a splash on the front page. Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama carried that sort of coverage through the entire weekend as he made his choice clear on NBC's meet the press.

On the other hand, John McCain remains the same old, same old. He is repeating the same old points.

With Barack Obama leading in the polls, the pressure is on John McCain to draw attention to himself in order to court the independent vote.

His choice of Sarah Palin as his VP choice was such a play. Media attention eclisped Barack Obama for some time and McCain showed an instant jump in the polls. In order to win in November, John McCain needs to pull out another trick out of his hat to have a legitimate shot. Appearences on Saturday Night Live are simply not going to cut it.

John McCain needs to make a challenging statement directed straight at the Obama camp. He needs to directly go after Obama on the key issue--experience and Obama's tax plans. He needs to do this in a way that is attention getting.

Here's how: John McCain should announce a press conference. Obviously, all the networks will attend, if for nothing else but to say they're covering the election. John McCain the n will start talking to the cameras as if he's having a face to face conversation with Obama. For at least ten minutes, he should talk directly to Barack Obama through the media--directly through the median that has propelled Obama to the top--highlighting every point of contest; every debate point that was skipped over. He should do so forcefully and strongly. Then sit back and wait for Barack to respond.

The media will hold their collective breath and wait for their chosen one to respond to McCain's savage attack. The buildup will be something that McCain needs--renewed coverage and media attention. He will not win the election emphasizing the same things...everyone has already heard them. He will win by doing something different, something new---something that actually is maverick-ish. He needs to portray himself as something new, unlike the image that he has let Obama corner him into.