Bob McCarty Writes

Behind in the polls, John McCain needs to adopt an unconventional campaign tactic I read about yesterday; he needs to publicly challenge Barack Obama to agree to be hooked up to a lie detector during the third and final presidential debate Wednesday evening at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.

Yes, I know, the Democratic Party presidential nominee would never agree to such a condition.  For that matter, the power brokers behind the Commission on Presidential Debates would never allow it either.  Still, I think the Republican Party presidential nominee will win points with fence straddlers simply by issuing the challenge.  And, who knows, he might sway some folks away from Obama’s camp, too.

According to an Associated Press article I read yesterday, two challengers — a Republican and a Libertarian — vying for Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District seat agreed to be hooked up to lie detectors during a debate scheduled Oct. 21.  Sadly, incumbent Democrat Rep. Baron Hill said, “No,” to the proposal and, as a result, the proposal has been tossed out.

Though I’m not an Indiana resident, I’m convinced that the stock of both challengers increased after agreeing to a polygraphed debate.  Hence, the reason McCain should float the proposal.

Imagine the mileage McCain could get from floating such a proposal and then reminding Americans during the debate that Obama refused to be hooked up to a lie detector:

• The “Maverick” senator could raise the issue of Obama trying to convince Iraqi leaders to scuttle plans for a U.S. withdrawal of troops, a serious matter reported in The Washington Times today;

• He could raise the troubling issue of Obama’s birth certificate and ask the Illinois senator why he refuses to produce a genuine birth certificate; an

• He could, in front of a worldwide television audience, ask Obama to explain, truthfully, his relationship with unrepentant domestic terrorist Bill Ayers.

Couldn’t hurt, could it?  Hope he does it.