McCain Wins the Week as Obama Misfires

Score this week for John McCain, writes Mark Halperin in Time. "McCain's week wasn't particularly good, but Obama's was dreadful by comparison." Here’s how it adds up:

• Image: McCain’s goal is to make Obama look “like an ordinary politician.” Barack helped with one of his “most off-message weeks,” says Halperin, citing campaign finance, NAFTA, and a flap over head scarves. Advantage: McCain.
• Iraq: The war has always been Obama's ace in the hole, but “favorable reporting” on surge success from major papers “may neutralize the issue.” Advantage: McCain.

• Energy, environment: McCain may look like a flip-flopper and Bush sympathizer on offshore drilling, but Obama “risks appearing insensitive to his proposals’ potential economic costs.” Tie.
• Resources: Obama’s public finance opt-out will make him the richest general election candidate ever. Advantage: Obama.

(More Barack Obama stories.)