As was to be expected, a pretty uninspiring performance by both of the McCains last night. Interesting that the Republican nominee chose to underline his maverick credentials. Nick Denton argues that is exactly where the Democrats should be attacking him:

Before he appeared on the national stage, Karl Rove once explained the key to effective negative campaigning. “Look, I don’t attack people on their weaknesses,” he once told reporters in Texas during a campaign. “That usually doesn’t get the job done. Voters already perceive weaknesses. You’ve got to go after the other guy’s strengths. That’s how you win.”

That was the tactic employed in 2004 by conservative groups challenging John Kerry’s national security credentials; they undermined the Democratic candidate’s credibility as a war hero. And it’s the very same tactic that McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt has adopted to deal with a much more formidable opponent, Barack Obama. The first round of negative ads were straight out of Karl Rove’s playbook. The Democratic contender was portrayed was not so much a charismatic leader as a celebrity; driven not so much by destiny as hubris.

If one were to attack John McCain at his point of greatest strength, what would that be? Not his affiliation with the Republicans. In Rove’s words, voters already know that (to the extent that it’s true.) Even if the McCain campaign removes all mention of George Bush from the speeches and Republican signage from the halls, the party cannot escape the last eight years. John McCain strongest suit appears to be his maverick nature; he is a man who puts principle before party.

[...]By contrast, the American presidency is an executive role. Decisions require deliberation; principle must be put to one side in the interest of a messy compromise; pride must be swallowed. My personal test is a hypothetical reenactment of the Cuban Missile Crisis. If McCain were president, could he really ignore the more belligerent rantings of America’s enemies? Would he, like Jack Kennedy, have made the face-saving concession that helped the Soviet Union withdraw missiles from Cuba? If the phone rings at 3am in the White House, it’s McCain the proud martyr I worry about rather than careful Barack Obama.