I don't quite understand why the Obama campaign decided to link McCain to Rush Limbaugh. First of all, it was pretty clear to anyone paying attention as McCain closed in on the Republican nomination that Limbaugh was not happy. In fact, he was livid.
Moreover, Limbaugh is very, very well liked by the Republican base, which McCain has been courting since before he beat Romney. McCain has a fairly legitimate concern that, when the chips are down, 'conservatives' won't embrace him. They are more likely to now that Obama has essentially given McCain the 'genuine' Limbaugh endorsement that he's hitherto failed to get from the man himself (a normally enthusiastic Limbaugh has fallen well short of enthusiasm about nominee McCain).
But most importantly, by attacking McCain via Limbaugh, Obama opened up the guilt-by-association game, the one game that Obama does not want to play. He had all but avoided the issue of his very real ties to Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers, and of his less credible but still very real tie to Tony Rezko. Sure, these names have been mentioned by McCain surrogates; but a real attack along such lines has been (noticeably) lacking. Sadly, it will be an all-too-noticeable part of the campaign from now on.
Moreover, Limbaugh is very, very well liked by the Republican base, which McCain has been courting since before he beat Romney. McCain has a fairly legitimate concern that, when the chips are down, 'conservatives' won't embrace him. They are more likely to now that Obama has essentially given McCain the 'genuine' Limbaugh endorsement that he's hitherto failed to get from the man himself (a normally enthusiastic Limbaugh has fallen well short of enthusiasm about nominee McCain).
But most importantly, by attacking McCain via Limbaugh, Obama opened up the guilt-by-association game, the one game that Obama does not want to play. He had all but avoided the issue of his very real ties to Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers, and of his less credible but still very real tie to Tony Rezko. Sure, these names have been mentioned by McCain surrogates; but a real attack along such lines has been (noticeably) lacking. Sadly, it will be an all-too-noticeable part of the campaign from now on.
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