The backlash has not yet had an impact on voter's perceptions of McCain's credibility though, with the press emboldened, that could change. But to date, the numbers don't show it. In late July, the Real Clear Politics average of McCain's favorable rating stood at 53 percent, with 34 percent of voters saying they held an unpopular view of McCain. Since then, his favorability rating has gone up three points, while his un-favorability number has gone up just more than a point.
My sense is McCain forfeited his greatest asset last week. What the Obama camp must do, in my judgment, is both lay out their proposals for the economic, national security, and climate crises, while hammering this ad home about John McCain's trashing of his own reputation.