The presidential election has taken a few interesting turns over the cours of the last week.  With conflict in Georgia, voters have a new foreign policy threat on their mind as we head into the conventions.  Most media outlets give the edge to McCain, obviously, but will the conflict resonate with voters?  With the impact that it has on US oil (not to mention Valdimir Putin’s obvious attempts to expand his regional influence) it should.  If you’re interested in more on Georgian politics, I suggest “Democracy and Autocracy in Eurasia: Georgia in Transition” written by my Middlebury College classmate Irakly Areshidze.

Barack Obama took another hit when Republican political operative turned book publisher (who knew it was that easy!) Mary Matalin agreed to publish right wing hatchet man Jerome Corsi’s new book “The Obama Nation” which debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list.  Obama quickly issued a 40-page rebuttal.  Corsi was the guy behind “Unfit for Command,” a generally fictional account of John Kerry’s wartime service in 2004.  Of course, the Kerry camp didn’t take it seriously until too late and it doomed the campaign.

Sen. Hillary Clinton will have her name placed in nomination at the Democratic National Convention.  It’s a symbolic gesture, they say, and is being done in an effort to unite the Democratic Party.  Pundits are making a lot of noise about this.  Is it much ado about nothing?  The Democrats have to hope so.  Michael Goodwin of the New York Daily News opines, “The fleeting sense that he is a magnanimous nominee won’t get him a single vote he wouldn’t get anyway. Ditto for the idea that he’s going the extra mile to unify the party. Those who refuse to accept him as the legitimate winner aren’t likely to do so just because he caves into her demands. It makes him look weak and ratifies Clinton’s sense of entitlement to share party leadership and the convention spotlight.”  Toby Harnden of Real Clear Politics agrees, “Fuelled by an unholy brew of victimhood and entitlement, Clinton’s supporters threaten to steal the show at the convention. Don’t be fooled by the sweetness-and-light joint statement released by the two campaigns. According to one member of Clinton’s camp, Obama’s “elbow was twisted”. Any future negotiations with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran will probably seem like a picnic.”

The veepstakes is still running at full steam.  Rumors have been swirling about McCain strongly considering former Pennsylvania Gov. and Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge as well as Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman for his No. 2.  Hannity and Colmes discussed the issue with Dick Morris.  Morris loves the idea of a McCain - Lieberman ticket.  Rich Lowry notes the absurdity of it.

As for Obama, he’s been in Hawaii so there hasn’t been much talk.  Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine seem to be leading the pack.