[SMCC1]

I don’t care if McCain goes after the moderate vote. In fact, he probably needs to if he wants to win. HOWEVER, praising Obama’s service as “community organizer” isn’t going to do it. How is praising the opponent going to persuade someone to vote for him?

[supercat]

I don’t care if McCain goes after the moderate vote. In fact, he probably needs to if he wants to win. HOWEVER, praising Obama’s service as “community organizer” isn’t going to do it. How is praising the opponent going to persuade someone to vote for him?

Reverse psychology. Done properly, it can be an effective way of unblocking cognitive dissonance.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

How is praising the opponent going to persuade someone to vote for him?

This is called civility.