Second presidential debate tonight. Barack Obama is ahead in the polls. Sarah Palin broke even last week. It’s up to John McCain needs to turn this thing around.

McCain’s campaign formally announced over the weekend that they’ll be ramping up the personal attacks on Obama’s character, a move I think will ultimately backfire because it completely misses what people are focused on right now: our tanking economy.

I’m also not sure why a military guy thinks it’s a wise move to announce to the enemy exactly how he’s going to proceed. (Dear Native Americans: We’re outnumbered and heading for that ridge. Love and kisses, Custer.”)

The pundits have lowered the bar for Obama by pointing out that town hall meetings are not his strongest format. That means McCain has an even higher hurdle to overcome. Not only does he have to brilliantly answer questions from real voters, but he may also have to take a page from his running mate’s playbook to find ways to get in his attacks.

That’s tough.

If he comes across as ignoring the questions, he’ll look even more out of touch, but his senior strategists are openly saying that the only way he can win is by trashing Obama’s reputation.

Obama, meanwhile, just needs to maintain his cool, calm and collected demeanor. Let McCain get angry. Let him look like an erratic, hotheaded jerk who should never, ever be in charge of our country. McCain’s already off his game. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that he swings, misses and knocks himself out tonight.