Nothing new (or substantial) on Ayers (their relationship was brief, and Obama already denounced his past actions), Rezko (no proof of any illegal/unethical activities from Obama), or the Rev Wright (this was already played to death). We already heard this stuff back in the primaries ad nauseum; since there isn't much to add I doubt it will have much effect.I don't see questioning a persons past associations as "smear" tactics...Sen. Obama was associated with an admitted terrorist (Ayers), Tony Rezco, and wingnut Wright, and now he wants to be POTUS, I see that as an issue. Sen. McCain is billing himself as a reformer, who is working against corruption, yet he was involved in the S&L scandal..granted he was exonerated, but it will still be brought up by the Sen. Obama campaign (as well as ABC/CBS/MSNBCrap) it is a legitimate point to be debated. A smear tactic is using LIES to denegrate your opponent (photoshopped pictures of Gov. Palin in a bikini, Sen. Reid claiming Sen. McCain was responsible for the original House Bailout Bill not passing, half of the things Sen. Biden said in the debate, you know, crap like that)
Where I think Sen. McCain needs to bring the heat is on the fact that he tried to legislate a solution to the Fannie Mae/ F. Mac problem back in '03, and was shot down by Democrats...
I have a feeling this election is slowly sliding from the GOP and will need either an October surprise like we haven't seen or a serious change in tactics from the Sen. McCain campaign...
As an aside: I never thought I would here Gov Palin saying (bragging?) she read anything in the New York Times ("See, I do read papers...take that Katie!")
BTW: this is the serious change in tactics... "turning the page" on the economic crisis and trying to make the election about Obama's character. It may stop the trend going for Obama, but will it make move things in the other direction? My gut says no (of course that could be the omelet I had for breakfast).
I think that all Obama has to do tonight is not make a mistake and his numbers will continue to rise.