Is My Phylactery Showing?

I mentioned before that this campaign is playing out like a boxing match, with Obama appearing to have the upper hand, while McCain occasionally makes fairly significant attacks that have clear impact in the polls.

I just recalled (don't know why it took so long) Muhammed Ali's name for this strategy: rope a dope. Oddly enough, Andrew Sullivan used it in reference to Obama's strategy against both Hillary and McCain.

The way Ali always used it was to encourage his opponent to expend energy while he rested on the ropes. Then he would come back with an unexpected flurry of punches when the oppinent was at his weakest and end the fight.

Are we in the flurry stage? There are punches coming in from all sides, and the lead seems to be slacking.

It would be easy to give up right now because the sound of defeat seems to be ringing in our ears. However, things may not be as bad as they seem.

This from RedState.

This from Townhall. (Yes, I know. I'm not always wild about Coulter's approach, but she is insightful.)

And this from Hot Air.

I mentioned the way this campaign is starting to look like the last few rounds of a boxing match a few days ago. I think the little pieces of the strategy are starting to fall into place.

Hmmmm.

Do you remember that comment that McCain made about Obama not knowing the difference between a tactic and a strategy? So right now, the McCain camp is throwing a lot of small shots that could be damaging but are mostly just getting the Obama camp off balance. The second debate gave the Obama camp a reason to increase their expectations, but the Ayers question and the new NP relationship are starting to make waves.