Admit it. Republicans are intimidated by the “shock and awe” of Obama-mania—sold-out venues and the roar of the frenzied crowds swooning to high oratory. It’s so embarrassing. I just feel like editing out the pathetic crowd responses in McCain’s audio clips before airing them on my show.

The truth is that many Republicans are genuinely fearful as the Obama campaign turns its full attention to the general election. Even Bill Kristol says Republican insiders are quietly sharing their frustration over the “style” gap. Most are trying to brace themselves for the campaign ahead.

Republicans just need to man up!  The McCain campaign has a lot going for it—really.

For one thing, Republicans should be smiling like a Cheshire cat over something that anyone who has ever run a political campaign knows: Be happy when your opposition claims he or she will win the election by turning out young people and by targeting voters who usually do not vote. What the opposition learns on Election Day is that young people and people who don’t usually vote, well, they don’t vote, usually. See the U.S. Census Bureau report on the 2004 election.

Predictably, Obama supporters say this presidential race is anything but usual—that those who usually don’t vote, well, they will—this time. Is that just bravado or real prophecy? It is most likely bluster, but either way, McCain cannot do a whole lot about it, and should focus on voters who are likely to turnout on Election Day. In political parlance, McCain should only “hunt for ducks where there are ducks.”

If you don’t believe me, look at June 5th Gallup poll which finds that, “Perhaps one of the greatest divides in the 2008 election will be along age lines, with Obama demonstrating great appeal to younger voters, but not faring as well among senior citizens. Obama leads McCain by 23 points among voters aged 18 to 29 [who don’t vote], while trailing McCain by 12 points among those 65 and older [who do].”

The poll also found that 15 percent of Democrats polled support McCain, which is good, and McCain has stronger support from the Republican base that Obama has from the Democratic base, which is even better. An added insight can be found in a Gallup poll in early March that found that Obama does better with women than McCain, but that was before Obama “disrespected” Hillary and her women, all of whom may not return to Obama by November. And, let us never forget that the Clintons will never, ever give their wholehearted support to Obama. McCain can aggressively go after the Hillary vote and should.

Beyond demographics, Republicans should not panic, but take a deep breath bearing in mind that new media is up to the task of thwarting the mainstream media bias. As the issues are framed, be grateful that cable television, talk radio and the Internet will pre-empt the old media’s attempt to reduce the race to a question of “style,” i.e. the new Camelot.

Have faith that this race will be a clear and classic choice between Left and Right. This is good for Republicans, and we should be grateful for the new media.

Strangely enough, writing for the U.K. Telegraph, American expatriate and admitted Leftist, Janet Daley, sums up the clear choice for the American voter in November:

To European eyes (and to some American ones, too) this is an election to determine how America sees itself: can it elect its first black president? Can it present itself to the world in an entirely new guise - as a member of the modern European club of social democratic societies? But to most Americans - the ones who are less beguiled by rhetoric and more concerned with financial survival, and those who need practical reassurance more than inspiration - this election will be about proven character and tested judgment.

Before we all start fretting over the daily polling in battleground states, Republicans should fear not and acknowledge that there are plenty of reasons to take heart.