Yes, there’s a kind of desire to want to hit back with equal force, but you have to look at the polls, and look at what the American people are saying. People always say that they are tired of negative campaigning, but negative campaigning has worked in the past. The problem is, in this election they actually seem to mean it. Two thirds of the electorate have stated clearly that they don’t care about Ayers, and the McCain campaign’s insistence on trying to force Ayers into being a center piece of this campaign has backfired in a measurable way.

At the same time that Obama’s favorables have risen, McCain’s have dropped, and he has yet to enjoy even the slightest positive movement in the polls as a result of his negative tactics.

The American people have spoken, and what they want is clearly an issues-based presidential election. If I were on the Obama team, no matter how tempting it might be to get down in the mud, I would council them to stay on the high road, and keep hitting McCain with the, “The American People don’t want to hear that kind of thing. There are real issues facing America, and that’s what the American People want to hear about.”

Would I love to see Palin get hit for her secessionist associations or Witch Doctor priest? Would I love to bring up Hagee again or Rod Parsley? Sure thing, and I probably will if they drag out Reverand Wright, but I would not suggest Obama do it.

If they want to start a battle, better be prepared for a war. An eye for an eye.