Ok, so it may not quite be the final straight. But it is undeniable that Barack Obama’s growing lead is starting to panic the GOP. Republicans are worried that there may not be the time to turn it around.

Rightwing blogs are denying that it’s over, claiming that Kerry led Bush going into the ‘04 election - only to lose. But as leading Democrat blogger Oliver Willis points out, this is simply not the case (wot, you mean rightwingers lie?). Bush was leading Kerry at this point in ‘04.

Moreover, the Obama lead is beginning to bring more and more States into contention. This is a result of Obama’s adoption of Howard Dean’s ambitious 50-State strategy (something it should be noted, that was ridiculed by the Clintons), and the increasing economic concerns of the electorate. In polls Obama crucifies John McCain on the economy.

Previously Red-States such as Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Nevada, and Colorado are now realistic Democrat targets. The uber-important “swing-states” of Ohio and Florida are sliding towards Obama, and McCain, much to Sarah Palin’s ire, has given up completely in Michigan.

So what do you do when you’ve all but lost the election? Well, if you’re John McCain you get nasty, very nasty.

The past week has seen the McCain campaign turn from prickly to just plain vindictive. Everything that was off-limits is now fair game. McCain, who suffered so grievously at the hands of George Bush in the 2000 primary, has dropped his “straight talk” commitment and has signed up to the gutter politics he always claimed was beneath him.

In recent speeches, Veep-hopeful Sarah Palin has linked Obama to “demoestic terrorist” Bill Ayres, using a NY Times article as a source - neglecting to mention that the Times article concluded the Obama and Ayres were little more than passing acquaintances (unlike Palin’s long-term links with the anti-American Alaskan separatist movement, whose convention she addressed earlier in the year).

The McCain team has also asked to view the Obama campaign’s donation registrar. No doubt they plan to pour over every name in a desperate attempt to raise questions about Obama’s background. Any name sounding even remotely Islamic would no doubt find its way into GOP election materials. Oh, and did I say that the McCain team has suggested that Hamas supports Obama? Seriously.

Nothing, it seems, is below the belt. The McCain strategy is now to try and ruin Obama, while simultaniously diverting the electorate away from the nation’s economic woes.

An increasingly volatile and grumpy John McCain has no answers, only dirt to throw.

With undecided voters beginning to make their minds up, and with many postal voters submitting their votes around now, it could well be over. Unless McCain can strike gold with a campaign-toppling scandal (or unless a terrorist attack means security trumps the economy), Obama should coast to a famous win.

Tonight, during the second presidential debate, expect sparks and dirt to fly as the two candidates clash. A good performance from Obama could well be the killer blow, but Republicans will be hoping for a final fightback by McCain.

As Obama has learned, McCain can swing viciously when on the ropes.