As I write this the lead that Obama has over McCain has widened and the disclosures surrounding Palin have substantially offset the gaffs that Biden has been making suggesting that, if nothing changes, Obama will win by a significant margin. McCain is a tactical and not strategic but, tactics work reasonably well in the final days of an election and there was one that came to mind that might work.

If we define the major problem the McCain camp has as the administration that precedes him and agree that to overcome the current gap he has to both open up a new offensive and overcome the current major problem he is dealing with one solution comes to mind.

Attack the Cause

Aggressively move to hold the previous administration, and the individual major players, accountable for the problems the nation is facing. This would immediately separate McCain from Bush, and address an unmet need that exists across the nation, the need to punish someone for the economic pounding the vast majority of US citizens are facing.

Voters have a real problem understanding the differences between McCain and Obama’s various plans to address the economy, the wars, and corrupt government but punishment they get and the approval ratings indicate that the vast majority feel the current administration is at fault and people can easily get behind holding these folks accountable. Danger after the election would be an out of control witch hunt but that would be after the election and the goal now is to get elected.

It wouldn’t come without risk and would set a dangerous strategic precedent that most would be unwilling to set. However it may be the only way to win this election, interestingly enough, it might assure succeeding administrations don’t take the kind of liberties that the current one has taken.

This is McCain’s last shot at the US Presidency, Obama, like Nixon, could get another shot. This suggests McCain will be more willing to take major chances to assure victory. It will be interesting to see how the final election days play out.