I also think McCain may begin to make headway with the point that Obama still refuses to just say he was wrong on this.

This is a potentially big argument for two reasons:

1) It ties Obama, not McCain, to something people don't like about Bush.

2) It can be used to deflate the notion that a smart guy like Obama can learn on the job. How can you learn, if you're never willing to acknowledge error?

I think McCain's comment was just the beginning of what we'll see on this.

I know I'm biased, but how can this guy garner one vote at this point much less 50-60 million?

FWIW, I thought Obama's best moment of the night was when he explained directly how he didn't vote to cut funding for the troops, nor did John McCain when he made a similar vote. He voted against a funding bill that had no timetable, while McCain voted against a funding bill that had a timetable - Barack Obama voted against no timetable, not against funding the troops. McCain voted against having a timetable, not against funding the troops.

There are myriad ways to make the point that Obama is/was not capable of seeking victory - which is the overriding point. Cheap bites about voting against funding the troops is the weakest among them.

Steve, you probably have not noticed the "negative" votes given your comment.

But it shows something related I think.

You make an extremely valid point but, only those of us that take a very close look at the candidates AND politics in general will make the distinction you, and admittedly I have, in both the McCain and obama votes.

"We" know why both voted no and is an example why tagging things onto a bill that may be related but acts as a poison pill to one side is a BAD thing for many reasons.

The vast majority of people don't look as closely, all they see, and sadly care about many times, are these type of ads and sound bites.

As such they fail in the long run to win over either side to the others "camp," they only serve to reinforce preconceived notions on the preferred choice in the election.

The "fence sitters" that remain won't be shifted in either direction on the Iraq issue, I believe.

Hammering obama on the economy, and blasting the cable and over the air networks with ads on obama's ties to failed efforts to improve life in his home district after spending millions, consistently voting to raise taxes as a U.S. Senator, financial ties to both "Fannies," etc will have a bigger effect. I think, but helll, I'm far from an expert.
That said, one thing I wished McCain had nailed obama on would have been via this question:

"Do you favor the bailout bill as written, do you favor skimming 25-30 percent off the top of any potential "profits" be funneled to orgs like ACORN?"