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Why offer advice to Hussein — on FR of all places? Just curious.

Because it doesn't make any difference, whatsoever. For one thing, the notion that they would look on a forum and follow some random person's advice is paranoid. Second, they would never do it, anyway. These are egotistical people with agendas, and they have a passionate hatred of conservatism. They will go negative, because it is who they are. Third, it is too late, at least in any practical sense. Obama cannot meaningfully alter his image at this point. This was his last chance (outside of the "anything can happen" caveat) Fourth, they are going to follow the conventional wisdom that he did "better". Even a consultant in their camp would have no chance of denting that illusion.

If anyone is going to rise above the fray in the next debate, it will be Romney. He has at various times been quite statesman-like (much to my surprise). It is the next logical step, and there is nothing that Obama can do to stop it. He will look like either an irrelevant petulant schoolboy, or a wanna-be pretender, if he went negative, or above-the-fray, respectively.

This is now Romney's race to lose. The only way he loses it is if the Republican turnout is low, for some reason. Obama's chance to alter the dynamic has come and gone. (Barring some kind of dead girl/live boy revelation).

In light of that, the most important thing now is to remain confident, and to not lose sight of the forest for the trees.