Talk to any ardent Democrat and enthusiastic Obama supporter and you’ll hear a common lament:  ”why doesn’t he fight back?  McCain lies about his record, patronizes him and shows him no respect and what does Obama fire back with?  Senator McCain is right….. John is absolutely right about that…. I agree with Senator McCain.”   Maureen Dowd expressed bewilderment over why Obama doesn’t pound his fist on the lectern and demand that his opponent stop blatantly distorting his record.  Several other columnists have chided Obama for being too laid back, too passive.  Well it looks as though Obama has been so successful in removing race as an issue in this campaign that his critics have forgotten he’s Black.  

The rules of engagement are totally different for him.  We Americans may pride ourselves on being enlightened, tolerant and yes, maybe even color blind.  But the Senator from Illinois knows better.  He’s savvy enough to know that a wide swath of Americans still would have a visceral reaction to a young and energetic man (and Black to boot) going for the jugular of someone who looks like every white person’s grandfather. McCain may not be able to raise his arms to shoulder level, but Obama is literally fighting this knock-down, drag-out brawl with one hand tied behind his back.  Sure Obama could bring some passion and edge.  But how many undecideds would label him the stereotypical “angry Black man?”  

By striking a calm, reasoned tone in the debate, Obama is tearing a page out of Mohammed Ali’s prize fighting manual.  Ali was famous for a boxing tactic that came to be known as Rope-a-Dope.  He would allow himself to be backed up against the ropes where his opponent would swing away wildly.  But because Ali used his arms and gloves to cover all his vulnerable spots, the landed punches had minimal effect. Ali would only occasionally jab back, but before long, his opponent had exhausted himself.  

McCain is clearly dealing with a fatigue factor as well, not so much his own, but a fatigue among the voters when a tone is too constantly critical and negative.  Obama is letting McCain punch himself out while he stays above the fray looking presidential.  It’s a tactic that seems to be working.  After all, we’re in the equivalent of Round 12 of a 15 rounder and right now Obama is ahead on points.