In response to Brokaw's charge that he has been engaging in "verbal kung fu with reporters … about the surge," Obama lamely attempted to dissociate the surge from the "Sunni Awakening" and other positive political developments that have occurred or flourished in Iraq as a direct result of the surge. He then robotically repeated the puerile Democratic talking point that but for our "distraction" in Iraq, "we would be further along" in "hunting down al-Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan."

It's one thing for liberal commentators to slavishly compartmentalize the war on terror to Afghanistan alone, but it's scary that would-be President Obama trumpets this nonsense. Why, Sen. Obama, must we relegate ourselves just to hunting down al-Qaida in Afghanistan when they have volunteered themselves as targets in Iraq? Or do you believe they're off-limits in Iraq because the Democratic position requires you still to deny they're there?

When asked how he would combat the public's overwhelming perception that Sen. McCain would make a better commander in chief, Obama further embarrassed himself with non sequiturs about his promise to deliver "change."

And when Brokaw pinned Obama down about his threat to go after al-Qaida in Pakistan with or without the blessing of that country, in view of the risk that it could cause a "conflagration" with Pakistan because about "50 percent" of Pakistanis "are sympathetic to the terrorists," Obama stuttered into the evasion that "the situation in Pakistan is complicated."

It's no wonder that Obama is studiously avoiding unscripted town hall meeting appearances with McCain. That's the only wisdom he's exhibited lately.

In response, McCain should relentlessly call him out. McCain's main election strategy should be to expose more of the real Obama to voters every chance he gets.