McCain's Laid-Back Lassitude

After breathing fire in the early Republican primaries ("I will follow bin Laden to the gates of hell and I will get him!"), John McCain is being positively soft-spoken these days in accusing Barack Obama of flip-flopping on campaign finance, gun control and other issues. (Insomniacs could use his YouTube clips as sleep aids.)

Is he channeling Fred Thompson, whose professionally low-key performance was meant to suggest mature self-confidence but made him look as if he were running for president from a Barcalounger?

It's a good idea to offer a contrast to the Bush-Cheney imperial presidency style, but McCain's lassitude may only exacerbate the issue of his age and possibly diminished energy.

"John McCain Doesn't Work Weekends," says a new Politico post, pointing out that he has "done little to capture media attention on weekends for nearly five months," spending much of the time at home.

Now that gender is off the electoral table this year and race is out in the open, the McCain campaign will have to take steps to deal with the age issue by having their man show more get-up-and-go.