One thing that excites me about the prospect of an Obama-McCain matchup is the clear contrasts. Of course, the two candidates' plans for the country are almost diametrically opposed. And in terms of age and race, they are far removed. But the contrast that sits foremost in my mind is one of style.

And nothing encourages me more than watching McCain give a speech. Last night, as the polls were closing in Montana and South Dakota, he offered up a truly embarassing performance in New Orleans. The speech was constructed around the phrase "That's not change we can believe in," which McCain would deliver -- over and over again -- after criticizing one of Obama's positions. With each repetition, he sounded more ridiculous and the crowd more deflated. It was a wince-fest, to say the least.

You can watch the train wreck here.

And then, for fun, check out the contrast Obama provided last night.

McCain is a formidable candidate, in a way. But his strengths are static. They're grounded in the past -- in his biography and in a "maverick" persona that is undermined by his actual record over the past seven years. The question is whether this weak foundation can hold up over the course of the next 154 days.