John McCain, once known as a centrist and considered for the Democratic vice presidential slot in 2004, is running a Karl Rove-style negative campaign where he talks only about Iraq, writes blackton. Though national polls give off mixed signals — one has McCain up among likely voters while most others have Barack Obama leading — Obama is certainly in a better polling position than he was 10 days ago, before his overseas trip and at a time when the media was focused on his shifting positions, writes Nate Silver.