The Campaign in a Nutshell  | Thu Oct. 16, 2008 10:27 AM GMT
THE CAMPAIGN IN A NUTSHELL....This picture is a microcosm of the
entire campaign. It's totally unfair, it could happen to any of
us, it's just an unfortunate trick of timing and angle,
but....well, nothing is going right for John McCain this year,
is it? The guy is cursed.  Speaking of that, though, here is
Jacob Hacker:  We political scientists generally subscribe to
the "minimal effects" view of campaigns, in which both sides are
savvy enough that their efforts cancel each other out. And this
certainly seems like an election in which the fundamentals have
swamped any campaign strategies either side has used. But I
think it's time to recognize that Obama has done something more
profound in this cycle than simply run a smart campaign; he is
showing that the old Republican strategy on economic policy of
calling for tax cuts and criticizing government, while thowing
mud in every other area, has real limits when the other side
directly confronts it wi