This week's troubles on Wall Street and approval of an energy bill in the House seems to have given a boost to Democrats in the Congress, as they've ended months of reactive political behavior and gone on the offensive against Republicans and John McCain.
Democrats seemed more feisty than ever as they spoke on the floors of the House and Senate on Wednesday, openly mocking Republicans on energy and more.
While Republicans weren't giving in, it almost was like they had taken a sucker punch to the gut after the Democrats muscled their energy bill through the House on Tuesday night, as both sides accused the other of using the issue for election year partisan purposes.
Even on the economy, Republicans seemed muted, mainly because it was a GOP administration that was behind the takeover/bailout of AIG and the no-bailout for Lehman Brothers earlier in the week.
As usual, the economy seems to be more fertile ground for Democrats in the Congress, but that still hasn't translated to the Presidential race.
The thing that makes me hesitate about why Barack Obama hasn't been able to open a gap on McCain over the economy is something pretty basic about his candidacy - he positioned himself as the anti-Iraq War candidate first and foremost.
He has never been the anti-War AND economic insecurity candidate. Don't get me wrong - that's always been part of his message - but it's never really been one that makes you sit up and take notice at his campaign events.
A week from tomorrow will be the first Presidential debate, which means that we really don't have much more time in this race.
What I mean by that is that a lot of people will be watching the debates and using them to forge their Final Opinions. So, if there's a gaffe by one or a big time smoke-'em-if-you-got-'em moment for either side, that could well drive this race one way or the other.
I had to chuckle on Wednesday when I read some stuff from the Obama camp where they were downplaying expectations for their candidate in the debates, because he supposedly can't debate.
Sheesh. He can't do town halls either, eh? Does that mean he can only give speeches on teleprompters?
They better be careful about how they spin their way into the debates.
A Fox News poll asked how voters saw each candidate - as a "talker" or a "doer."
Obama was a "talker" by more than 15 points.
McCain was a "doer" by 24 points.
Now to come full circle. While Democrats in Congress seem more energized about their election situation, it's still an open question as to whether Obama can seize on the current uncertainty on Wall Street.
He has said some of the right things, just as his colleages in the House and Senate are doing this week.
Whether he can clinch the votes of people on economic issues in the debate could end up determining whether he will win November 4th.
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