After weeks of criticism from Republicans about the leisurely pace at which they seemed to be preparing for the general election, McCain’s campaign has apparently settled on a highly personal campaign theme that aims to differentiate McCain and Obama on both character and issues. ~The Politico

This is very much in line with what I have been expecting for some time now.  Given that McCain knows nothing, or next to nothing, about policy (including his own positions!) and his biography is what has recommended him to voters all along, this strategy was almost guaranteed from the beginning.  Furthermore, this approach seems to have some chance of working. 

The article describes the plan this way:

The strategy: Paint Obama as conventional politician who always takes the safe and easy political road [bold mine-DL], then amplify the distinction by framing McCain as a patriot, somebody who has put sacrifice above self.

Since Obama does always take the safe and easy road, this won’t have to involve any real distortions of his record, either, which will end up winning McCain more plaudits from pundits for his allegedly abiding sense of honesty.  The second part has already been done for him by the media a dozen times over.