OK Dems, as Barack himself says, DON'T get "cocky" or complacent.

[RBInMaine]

Last evening I posted a pretty provocative piece expressing some measure of criticism that the Obama camp and the Dem party at all levels is not doing enough to directly hit back against the nasty robo calls and mailers being sent out in force by the RePukes. While I blasted the ReTHUGS and talked about all I have personally done to hit back (called the Maine GOP and blasted them over the phone, etc.), sent them a letter blasting them, have worked the ground for Dems in my own town, etc. etc., I was criticised on this site for insisting on the direct kind of hit-back that it seems the Obama camp has promied i.e. "donate to us so we can fight the smears." While the ReThug smears will backfire in some areas (I think we'll carry Maine), UNANSWERED they CAN have an effect in other areas. Folks, this AINT OVER YET BY ANY MEANS. Several key states (OH, FL, MO, etc.) are still VERY close. The McNASTY tactics can serve to gin up their base in these places and shift enough Indys to tip the balance to them. We've seen this before. Polls can shift FAST. Look at WV. Light blue last week, pretty damn red this week. Some responses to my post last evening sounded like this thing was over, and that an Obama landslide was in the bag. Make no mistake. The Rove-trained GOP knows how to do a STELLAR turnout operation, and they have MILLIONS in the bank to do it. So, again, from someone who has already voted for Barack via early voting and who is doing his part (canvassing AGAIN this weekend), I urge Dems to insist upon a "fight-back" on the smears (NO, we don't have to "counter-SMEAR", but we CAN hit back HARD with ads that denounce their smear tactics, make them look desperate, and then pivot to the economic issues - at least do that!) My thesis is that our party needs to be VERY TOUGH once again in the tradition of Truman and JFK (these guys were AWESOME !). Obama has run a good campaign overall. No argument there. But TOUGHNESS and RESOLVE to the FINISH LINE is the order of the day. It is by no means over yet. KEEP FIGHTING. Thanks.