Tonight, McCain is going to face a tough, tough battle.  He relishes these types of forums, but he can’t focus on just the small audience he will be with.  McCain needs to be careful not to resort to talking points! 

So those are the biggest don’ts.  What are the do’s?  

1. Hit hard on what he did to prevent Fannie / Freddie.  As Ed Morrissey writes:

McCain sponsored legislation; Obama wrote a letter. 

McCain took action; Obama did nothing but talk, and far too late.

2. Since the Keating 5 incident will come up, McCain needs to say he is on the record that he exercised poor judgement 20 years ago by simply taking a meeting.  He did nothing else, and he was exonerated.  He needs to say something like, “This was the mistake of a first-term Senator. While I was cleared of any impropriety, I understand judgement and appearances are important, unlike Senator Obama who continues to defend his questionable relationships rather than admit a mistake. The experience I gained from that incident has made me a better Senator and will make me a great President.” 

3. Question Obama about what he will cut from his spending proposals.  Don’t let him get away with enumerating what programs have to be implemented like he did the last debate.  Make sure Americans understand the size of his spending package and how he will never be able to pay for it, adding another trillion dollars onto the trillion dollars we just spent on bailouts, err, rescue plans.

4. Be specific!  He has to make people understand he really will cancel all non-essential spending.  Explain some of the programs that will be on hold.  Tell them he won’t take the Presidential salary, which is $1.6 million dollars over the four years. 

5. Shoot down Obama’s “out of touch” argument.  He needs to make the audience understand that he understands them by making some examples that are true but don’t make him seem like he studied up for the question.  He might sound insincere if he makes an argument like, “I know not taking the $1.6 million dollar four-year salary might seem like it won’t make a difference, but every little bit helps.  Americans make those decisions all the time — they buy generic instead of brand name at the grocery store, they go from the 500 minute plan to the 200 minute plan on their cell phones, they cut back on extra cirricular activities for their children.  Pretty soon, they have saved $100 or more dollars a month, which can make a big difference when gas prices are still as high as they are.”  But, if he does it right, he can connect. He just needs to make sure he knows what a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk cost before hand, because he might get called out on it, heh.

6. Have every fact at hand that he can.  He needs to know Obama’s plans and records as well as he knows his.  Call Obama out on things that aren’t right.  Don’t let him put untruths out there unquestioned, because Brokaw won’t do it.  McCain, however, can’t belabor any points or else he will seem like a broken record.

7.  If Obama brings up the angry and erratic argument that has been out there the past couple of days, he needs to say, “Darn right I’m angry.  Aren’t you?  I’m angry that Congress has let America get into this situation.  I’m angry that the greed on Wall Street went unchecked.  I’m angry Americans are losing their savings, homes, and jobs because of it.”

8. If Obama tries to tie him to Bush, he needs to make clear he is not Bush without seeming like a party traitor.  Palin had a good line this morning in Florida, which McCain can use and say something like, “Senator Obama keeps looking back to assess blame.  I am looking forward to the solutions.  I know how to move America to the future.  Senator Obama has never been tested in crisis situations like the ones we are facing at home and abroad. I have the experience to get America back on track.”

9. The “fundamentals of the economy” argument will probably be brought up, too.  He needs a better explanation.  Explain in simple terms: ”This crisis is built on 6% of people who have defaulted on loans.  Wall Street continued to bet on those 6% making payments, and they lost, big time.  While 94% of us still are still making payments and keeping up, we are all being affected by those bets.  However, we are still Americans.  We are all cutting back, but we are still going to the grocery store, we are still producing the best goods in the world, and we are still creating small businesses. America is still trying moving forward, albeit with caution and some obstacles.”

10.  Be McCain.  He’s the straight-talker.  He will connect better with Americans if he just lays it all out there without a lot of the political filters that we see so often.  Keep talking to Americans as an American.