Back during the 2008 election campaign presidential candidate John McCain visited Florida with a five point lead over Barack Obama in the state's election polls. Then inexplicably, McCain went into a room filled with senior citizens and gave a speech about the need to cut their Social Security benefits.

Florida as we know from our recent political experience is a must win state for any candidate serious about moving into the Pennsylvania Avenue address. Why would McCain go into a must win state and cut his own throat with a policy address at a campaign stump event. Did the McCain camp think these senior citizens would perhaps admire his candor?

During the Republican convention McCain could expect to receive a bounce in the polls, historically five to ten percent.