Driven by Jerry Springer-type reporting from the mainstream media, current polling data of likely voter preferences show that the presidential contest between Barack Obama and John McCain is in a dead heat. On the surface, it may appear that the Obama Campaign has lost its mojo as a result of the media frenzy surrounding the selection of Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate. However, if you take a deeper look, you will find Obama still sitting in the catbird seat.

It is undeniable that McCain fueled by the addition of Palin, has made a small dent into Obama's lead. McCain and his surrogates also have been playing the media to guarantee favorable reporting about Palin.  At every turn the GOP has been yelling foul in order to provide cover for Palin who is neither ready for primetime nor ready to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.  Nevertheless, the GOP strategy has found some success, but there are signs that the media honeymoon for McCain and Palin is about to end.

The media has started to call McCain and his surrogates on the carpet for making a series of false and misleading statements about Obama and for routinely using questionable talking points that cast Palin in a more positive light.  Compounding McCain's problems is the return of Obama from what some have felt was too passive a stay on the sidelines. However Democrats cannot help but be encouraged that Obama appears refreshed and ready for hand-to-hand combat for the final phase of the 2008 presidential contest. So at this point in the game, being even in a poll of likely voters is not a reason for celebration for the McCain camp, but a reason for extreme concern.

The GOP are scared silly because they realize that a dead heat of likely voters spells trouble.  In 2008, the historical voting preferences for "likely voters" does not include the voter intent of the millions of cellphone-toting, new and highly motivated Barack Obama supporters that are absolutely giddy with excitement as they await the opportunity to cast votes for Obama in numbers so astounding that political pundits will be left speechless.

So for anyone who may think otherwise, the Obama phenomenon and movement is still running on a full tank. In fact the Obama tank is so full that McCain is attempting to siphon off Obama's idea of change. Well imagine that.  McCain, since picking Palin as a running mate, now touts change as a more important presidential qualifier than experience. A hardy welcome aboard John. Better late than never.  However, your idea of change is not change that the American people can afford to believe in.