Is It Over Already? Ask "Joe The Plumber"!

I sure hope that “Joe the Plumber” cashes in on his fifteen minutes of fame. Of course, if he clears more than a quarter million bucks (and Obama wins) he’ll likely pay more taxes!

What’s more likely is that he will remain below that threshold. As Obama said today on the campaign trail “How many plumbers do you know that make more than a quarter million dollars a year?” (followed by raucous laughter) Joe says that McCain is still his man.

Many of the polls had Barack Obama the “winner” in last night’s debate, although it appeared that he was a tad cautious-the hallmark of someone who knows he has the advantage and wishes to avoid a mistake rather than score points. Sen. McCain, on the other hand-needed a knockout punch—and even most Republicans agree that he didn’t land it.

In fact, I think he appeared anxious to mix it up—and that tone and demeanor worked against him.

Whatever your politics, there is much consensus that Obama has run the better campaign. His message of change has been consistent from the beginning, his organization has been far better (if you don’t believe me, ask prohibitive pre-primary favorite Hillary Clinton) and he has out-maneuvered and out-strategized his opponents at every turn, right down to ignoring “conventional wisdom” regarding “red” and “blue” states. As a result, he has redrawn the electoral map to be competitive in states that historically have been Republican strongholds.

John McCain’s campaign-on the other hand—has been one of high drama, from the shift away from Obama’s inexperience (abandoned after the selection of Sarah Palin) to “change” to his mishandling of the economic crisis.

A wise man once said that a candidate’s campaign is a microcosm of their administration. If one can’t conduct a cohesive campaign that is effective, how can they run something far more complex—like, say, the United States?

I DON’T think it’s over-as enough undecided voters can shift in time to cause an upset win for McCain.

It will be exciting to watch!