You have been mentioning the role of negative advertising in your show and how it may have hurt McCain.

The Obama Campaign needs to remain positive to get the swing votes. My parents live in Rural Ohio. They aren't partisan and have voted for most if not all of the winners for the presidents. They don't read blogs, they don't read too much outside of the local "farmers market" papers. They do watch Prime-Time TV shows and the commercials that come with it.

Visiting my parents and watching Monday Night Football I had to hear numerous complaints of negative advertising. "See even Obama is making a negative ad!" I am going to have them watch the Debate and (they haven't seen any of them - "they couldn't be bothered") will discuss it with them. My feeling is that my parents represent most middle-aged swing voters who are undecided. Negative advertising only seems to charge the base and distracts the swing voters. My Mom and Dad did like the positive ads where Obama defined himself and his history. My dad amused me when he went, "Obama's mom is white?"

Come debate I hope Obama stays positive and defines himself by his own definitions. I hope that goes to his advertisements. Let the media define McCain for the political junkies to argue over. Those are the people who have already decided for whom to vote for.

Positive advertising will help to get the swing vote. Negative advertising only seems to detract those swing votes and only charges the bases for both parties. Yes you need to define your opponent but you also need to define yourself when there is a lot of confusion of who you are. Obama is still unknown and seems undefined by many. If he can sell himself as a good man and as someone who cares and it sits in with people I think that would help him get votes from "swing voters" like my parents.