The smear campaign needs to quit. MOST Americans aren't that stupid and realize a desperate attempt at a distraction from real issues when they see one.
I'm not much on religion but a quick biblical reference... Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. So come on McCain! We know about Keating, we know you have ties to former Nazi collaborators and right-wing death squads through the private group in the Iran-Contra case. We know you have some extremely questionable people you chose to be your campaign advisors.
I am not sure how personal attacks will help, especially when your own campaign admitted it needed to change the topic since the economic crisis obviously isn't helping you. If you're gonna participate in dirty politics, at least be smart enough not to admit it's because your economic plan is a crappy one!
So Obama and McCain both have links to people who could be considered questionable. If you look hard enough, pretty much everyone does. So... that brings us back full circle to the problem at hand.... ISSUES.
FOCUS. With polls not favoring McCain, he could at least decide to run a GOOD campaign; one that could be respected and thought of as honorable. McCain once said "I'd rather lose an election than lose a war." So why the desperation to win an election despite of morals, absolutely contradicting what he said about sticking to the issues and not making personal attacks?