In the past week, there's been a subtle but perceptible change in the relative way the two parties are playing the expectations game. Republicans, cautiously hopeful for months, are now flexing muscle and making taunts: We have the issues, the money, the momentum, and there's nothing the impotent President can do about it. The GOP's strategy is unlikely to change: From now to Election Day — from Fox News to Rush Limbaugh to the party's elected leaders and shogun surrogates like Sarah Palin — expect exultant chest-thumping. You can't stop us now.
Democrats face a more complicated situation. Ever since White House press secretary Robert Gibbs created an intraparty uproar in July by speculating that Democrats theoretically could lose majority control of the House of Representatives, the party has had trouble finding the balance between brash conviction (which might seem deluded now and foolish on Nov. 3) and wistful realism, leavened by some can-do optimism, in order to get dispirited Democrats engaged to vote.
