The McCain meme continues (and it just might work)

Grim made a very interesting point on the McCain campaign over at his hall:

We’ve talked about the disconnect between rhetoric and reality in this campaignbefore, so this is just another example. Sen. Obama is running on “a new politics,” but in fact wants the campaign to run just as previous ones have run. He wants the media to continue to serve as the moderator and filter (no surprise, given that they are strongly allied with him), and to limit debates to the traditional number.

Sen. McCain, whom rhetoric would have as the candidate of Not-Change, not only wants to move to frequent Town Hall debates where the voters can question the candidates directly — he also has adopted laughter, rather than fear, as his mode. Karl Rove’s former employees may be working for him, but it’s clear that the tone is being set by the candidate, not the campaign. Indeed, the tonal difference between McCain 2008 and Bush 2000 or 2004 could hardly be greater.

Indeed, for all of Obama’s talk about being the candidate of the young (and even I’ll admit younger voters prefer him right now), McCain is the one who has adapted to the times, which much prefer the wisecrack over the Wise Man – and judging from their latest fundraising letter, they’re going to mine the vein for all it’s worth:

With an immediate donation of $25 or more, we will send you an “Obama Energy Plan” tire pressure gauge.

Nice job, fellas (for anyone who doesn’t get the joke, read this).