The game is officially on. The conventions are over; both candidates have accepted their party's nomination with a thunderclap of powerful oratory. They kept America waiting on the edge of their sofas, all the way until the end. Finally, here it is, the first official week of the general election campaign.

But what are these men, John McCain and Barack Obama, these two men whose words lifted millions of Americans out of their seats talking about? Lipstick.

By now, most of America knows that the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is that specific piece of makeup, and they know who said it. The vice presidential race has taken on a life of its own, and both the American public and the media are captivated. Well, they're supposed to be; both candidates played the game to political perfection.

The 'Veepstakes' unfolded like an episode of American Idol. The Democrats sent text messages. The Republicans used the "Whoa! I totally did not see that coming!" tactic. Joe Biden is like the guy with the undeniably great voice that comes from years of training in the conservatories of foreign policy and Washington politics. He's not a shocking pick, but his records are good for many different parties and social gatherings. Sarah Palin is like the just-discovered talent who came out of nowhere, a right-wing mirror image of that former Vermont governor with the memorable scream. She's the overnight celebrity whose songs people eat up like Thanksgiving dinner. She's the new girl in school that everyone has a crush on but doesn't really know anything about, but man, can she captivate the audience.

Before the Republican National Convention, a CBS news poll of voter enthusiasm (a.k.a. number of people slapping bumper stickers on their cars) had McCain trailing Obama 48 to 40. By Sept. 3, three days in to the RNC, Obama and McCain were tied at 42. Much of the bump can be attributed to Palin; 85 percent of McCain supporters are glad he picked her, according to the same poll.

Palin has been the focus of at least one piece on the CBS Evening News every night since her acceptance speech, and somehow, the presidential candidates appear to be taking their conversational cues from her, rather than shaping the dialogue themselves. The election is seven weeks away, and the three major broadcast news networks, as well as Fox, CNN and the other 24-hour news channels are covering the presidential race as though it's a fight about who's supposed to be the one wearing makeup. At this very moment, three of CNN.com's Top Headlines are about Palin. McCain and Obama each have one. Joe Biden has zero.

It seems as though both the campaigns and the media have forgotten that it's the presidential candidates who are supposed to be steering the dialogue, rather than following behind.

By the same token, when viewing polls it's helpful to factor in the 'post-Convention high,' which manifests as a renewed and hopeful sense of patriotic devotion thanks to four days of politics served up like a Bruce Springsteen concert. That high, in terms of polls, has produced a repeated pattern for decades: each candidate's polling numbers inflate for the three days following their party's convention, then return to 'realistic' levels over the subsequent three days, like so.

Saturday, Aug. 23. Two days away from the start of the Democratic National Convention. A Gallup poll of approximately 2,700 registered voters had McCain and Obama in a dead heat with 45 percent each.

Friday, Aug. 29. One day after the end of the DNC. McCain: 41 percent. Obama: 49.

Monday, Sept. 1. Four days after the DNC and the first day of the Republican National Convention. Obama's on the crest of the wave, holding 50 percent to McCain's 42.

Thursday, Sept. 4. Final day of the RNC, one week after the DNC. Obama: 48. McCain: 44.

Sunday, Sept. 7. Three days after the RNC, and the numbers flip. McCain gets 49 percent while Obama drops to 44.

Wednesday, Sept. 10. Six days after the RNC. McCain: 48. Obama: 44. The exact opposite of where they were nearly a week prior, seven days after the DNC. The McCain Palin wave was just washing over the election.

And now the polls are in a dead heat again. It's time to put the cosmetic conversations back in Sarah Palin's purse.  

McCain and Obama should reach in their own pockets and pull out the memo on the promise they both made in August to not air negative campaign ads on Sept. 11, both out of respect and in the spirit of bipartisanship. Why stop with that one day? Both men need to pick up their shovels like they did, side by side, seven years after terrorists toppled two towers and tore apart the American sense of security, and embody the 'change' they're promising.

When Americans cast their ballots on Nov. 4, they can't vote for the vice president. It's the one at the top of the ticket that we the people must trust with the keys to the Oval Office, who must prove that they care so much that they will rejoice and ache with this nation's triumphs and devastations every day for the next four years.

One of these men is about to lead our country, and the people they'll be leading deserve to know what they have to say. John McCain and Barack Obama must regain control of this election. As they said together on Sept. 11, it would do a great service for our country.

Rachel Feldman – 9/12/08