This is true.
Republicans will be recording and filming and editing the attacks, mining them for material.
There is one plus on the other side however. Out of the headlines in America leads to quickly being forgotten, and this is something facing McCain while Obama and Clinton remain in the headlines.
American elections really are, to a frightening extent, marketing campaigns, and name-recognition and product presence are very important.
Indeed, the miracle of Obama is that a few months ago he was virtually unknown on the national scene.
Clinton, on the other hand, is unavoidably in everyone's mind owing to years of scandal and controversy. She might well be described as a rather tired product on the shelves.
Anything benefiting McCain is a source of concern. He is a genuinely dangerous man, impulsive, with a violent temper, and rather unbalanced.
I believe he will play his "straight talk" role in the campaign - and like all psychopaths he can be charming in doses.
Clinton's metallic, brittle personality will provide the weakest opposition to McCain. Many Americans just right and left of center find her unpleasant.
And the Religious Right which hates McCain likely hates Clinton even more. She will drive their votes out.
