Should Obama Attack?

By Jessie Roberts

Jonathan Chait thinks so:

Here’s the likely rationale: The public, by a wide margin, wants a Democrat to win the presidency. So all Obama has to do is make himself acceptable and he’ll win. Hence the focus on building up his own credentials rather than tearing down McCain.

Perhaps that sounds familiar. Let me refresh your memory: it was the John Kerry campaign strategy in 2004….

But even when Obama dips in the polls now, McCain doesn’t go up. Who’s to say that Obama attack ads wouldn’t alienate more voters than they’d win?