McCain?

I realized while typing the GOP nominee's name yesterday that I hadn't had much call to think about him in recent weeks. Obviously, a long-time political force who's shifted from Maverickdom to conventionality is going to be less exciting than the nation's first black nominee, but doesn't it seem like McCain is a little farther from the radar than you'd want, if you were a Republican operative? Part of the problem is because the campaign is at a dead spot, and will pick up later into the summer. Also, the McCain campaign's reintroduction tour coincided was outshined by the ongoing drama of Democratic primary, so it didn't get a whole lot of notice.

But whatever the reason, the drift has to be worrying for GOP'ers. Everything about McCain recently has been reaction. The controversy over aid Charlie Black's comments about terrorism was the campaign's biggest moment last week. McCain also attacked Obama for his surprisingly conservative reaction to the Supreme Court decision, but the candidate who earned the most attention was again Obama. Even on issues where Obama is almost entirely absent, as with McCain unveiling some new energy positions, he winds up on the defensive. When was the last time McCain made news (in a positive way) for something he did?