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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 ANALYSIS 
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Race's Sharper Attacks Run Economic Risk

Knife-fight tactics are out of place in crisis, strategists say

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(Newser) – Barack Obama and John McCain continue to sharpen their verbal barrage on each other ahead of tonight's debate, with Sarah Palin even going so far yesterday as to denounce Obama as "not one of us." But in economic upheaval, both candidates risk sounding off-message or even irrelevant, writes Adam Nagourney in the New York Times.

Obama himself has refrained from attacks—but his campaign surrogates hit back with a 13-minute film about McCain's involvement in the Keating Five S&L scandal. Strategists from both parties, however, speculated that 2008 might be an exceptional year; as one Democrat said, "You’re not going to change the subject from the economy."

John McCain participates in a rally in Albuquerque, NM, Monday, Oct. 6, 2008. McCain is scheduled to debate Democratic rival Barack Obama in the second of three presidential debates.
John McCain participates in a rally in Albuquerque, NM, Monday, Oct. 6, 2008. McCain is scheduled to debate Democratic rival Barack Obama in the second of three presidential debates.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
John McCain participates in a rally with his wife Cindy in Albuquerque, NM, Monday, Oct. 6, 2008. McCain is to debate Barack Obama in the second of three presidential debates today.
John McCain participates in a rally with his wife Cindy in Albuquerque, NM, Monday, Oct. 6, 2008. McCain is to debate Barack Obama in the second of three presidential debates today.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., walks out to speak to media about the economy at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, Monday, Oct. 6, 2008.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., walks out to speak to media about the economy at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, Monday, Oct. 6, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Barack Obama shakes hands with Angie Newsome, left, and Pat Hunt, as he buys lunch at 12 Bones Smokehouse in Asheville, NC, Monday, Oct. 6, 2008.
Barack Obama shakes hands with Angie Newsome, left, and Pat Hunt, as he buys lunch at 12 Bones Smokehouse in Asheville, NC, Monday, Oct. 6, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks to media about the economy at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, Monday, Oct. 6, 2008.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks to media about the economy at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, Monday, Oct. 6, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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This is not a normal campaign. Normal personal or character-based attacks are not going to work particularly well. If your house is on fire, all you care about is who can put the fire out the best. - Stuart Stevens, Republican strategist

Look, I’m not sitting here with my feet up. I think we have to fight. This is going to be a struggle every day. - David Axelrod, Barack Obama's senior political adviser

I cannot imagine anything more important to talk about than the economic crisis. And the notion that we’d want to brush that aside and engage in shenanigans, I think is not what the American people are looking for. - Barack Obama

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