Opposite Day

The theme of the Obama camp this week should be titled: "Let's Do the Exact Opposite of What Kerry Did." Patriotism and faith were two issues the Kerry campaign tried to ignore, assuming they'd be off the table. Yeah, not so much.

-- But, will these speeches - and time spent in rural America (he's off to ND and MT for the holiday wknd) - really improve Obama's standing among voters there?

-- Notably, frosh Rep. Zack Space (D), who cited a "long standing commitment" to another event, won't be at Obama's Zanesville speech. But will Space campaign for him/with him this fall? If not, what does that tell us about Obama's ability to truly compete in these parts?

-- On the other hand, do Obama's Sister Souljah moves - from his FISA flip to chastising MoveOn - hurt him among his liberal base? He can win w/out ND, sure, but not w/out a big turn-out from Dems. But despite some grousing from the 'netroots, there seems little interest among folks on the left to flog Obama publicly.

-- McCain, meanwhile, can't say that about his own base. But can talk on pres. "power of judicial nominations" (as he's doing in IN today) be his own "faith-based" outreach to evangelicals?