McCain/Palin are floundering. No one suggests otherwise. So far, when the going has gotten tough, McCain has pulled some sort of stunt to draw attention away from the strengths of Obama and focus attention on himself. Palin at the convention, 'suspension'of his campaign a he 'rushes' back to DC to eventually-scuttled talks...more and more.

Palin gave him a bounce, but now that her true colors are showing, that's gone. The suspension didn't play and the failure of the bailout (caused by his own party and specifically the group that he had courted) made his look weak and ineffectual.

So what can he do now? What stunts are left?

I can think of a few:

1. A Bristol/Levi wedding. This would focus attention back on Palin, his one bright spot (pollwise) and probably away from the disaster that tomorrow night is haping up to be for him. Of course, a Republican shotgun wedding could backfire as a celebration of American Family Values.

2. Some sort of terror attack. Fear works, as we saw in 2004 and I don't put anything past the Repubs at this point. McCain has shown clearly that he is willing to do ANYTHING at this point and an attack on American soil can only bolster him...or so his people probably thing.

3. Cancel the remaining debates. A true Hail Mary, he may be desperate enough to do this, since he could only fight to a draw with Obama in the one debate he was expected to win. Taking away the national audience for Obama to once again show how presidential he really is may be, in McCain's mind, a way to stop the bleeding.

4. Capture/Killing of Osama Bin Laden. This might be seen as what is probably is: an October surprise orchestrated by the Repubs solely for the purpose of the election. Big chance of backfiring and accusations of "Why now" and "why did it take 8 years?"

The Repubs are clearly desperate so nothing is out of reach at this point...except winning.