Many Dems believe that Obama-Biden should counter this Republican strategy by not only responding quickly to the Republican outrages, but also by relentlessly reminding voters about the state of the Nation. This sounds good, but it is a formula for defeat if following in the short run. Call it defeat by Swift-boating, 2008 style.
Instead, in the short run (say, over the next month), the Dems should fight almost exclusively in the identity politics arena--attacking time and again the characters of McCain and Palin for their lies and distortions. Yes, this would entail getting down into the mud with the Republicans, but doing so would take the gloss off of McCain's supposed "honor" and the goody-two-shoes image of Palin. This, in turn, would facilitate by election day a return (in voters' minds) to the real issues.
Paradoxically, the way for Dems to reach the voters on the important issues is to first demolish the Republicans on what they think is their strong, identity politics suit--namely, the characters of McCain and Palin. In sum, it is necessary to take the low road to reach the high road.