Potholes in Obama's Path

McCain was forced to disavow the remarks--never a good sign.

The Washington Times: "Mr. Black told reporters traveling with the campaign that he regretted the remark, according to the Associated Press. Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign called the comment a 'big disgrace,' and Sen. John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, said that by even thinking of an attack in political terms, Mr. Black was practicing 'the worst of the Rove-Bush fear playbook.'

"It was a distraction from what had appeared to be a promising line of attack from Mr. McCain on energy prices in the past week."

Speaking of energy prices, McCain's offshore drilling flip looks very different from a California perspective:

"For decades it has been a bipartisan political staple -- the jaunt to the beaches of Santa Barbara to profess opposition to oil drilling at the spot where a massive 1969 spill despoiled sea life and ocean waters, launching the modern environmental movement," the L.A. Times reports.

"John McCain returned to Santa Barbara this week not to assert his opposition to offshore drilling -- as he did when he ran for president in 2000 -- but to make the calculated gamble that high gas prices have trumped voters' desire to protect the environment."

In National Review, Kathryn Jean Lopez makes her spousal endorsement:

"If you're looking for a First Lady, you've got one in Cindy McCain. John McCain would be well-served by having his wife take a more visible -- and audible -- role on the campaign trail. Without the red carpet, pre-show, New York Times front-pager afforded Michelle Obama when she recently co-hosted The View -- and without buying into false grievances -- McCain demonstrates that she understands the national-security stakes in this election . . .

"During the ABC interview, the wife of the Republican presidential nominee gave a real answer when asked why women should vote for her husband -- an answer devoid of the usual silly-girl gender politics that pretends women look for something wholly different in the voting booth than men. Mrs. McCain said of her husband: 'Supporting our troops the way he does, supporting our young men and women right now who are serving so gallantly is very pro-woman, because every mother, every wife, sister, aunt feels the way I have felt.' She continued, 'The things that he does doesn't make him any more pro-woman, pro-man, pro-anti-anything. He is about America, making America strong.' Notably, though, the interview was spun much differently than it actually proceeded. 'Cindy McCain Presses Obama on Patriotism' abcnews.com proclaimed.

"Mrs. McCain did no such thing. She respectfully presented her preferences and offered that there are differences between the two candidates. But the prospect of a catfight or a Republican questioning a Democrat's patriotism was just way too tempting a trope -- even if it's fiction."

Meanwhile, people are still yakking about Michelle Obama's $148 dress, which is apparently sold out.

I know Hillary is so last month, but Salon's Rebecca Traister has thoughts about her disaffected female fans: