Twist Or Treat?

In an election where every week brought twists and turns, summing up the top turning points is a daunting task. But it's just the kind thing The Hotline loves to tackle. Here's our take on the events that shaped '08:

-- The Race Factor That Wasn't ... Or Was It?: Obama's "bitter" remarks in SF and his race speech in Philly. B. Clinton's "fairy tale" and J. Jackson reference. McCain's criticism of the NC GOP's Wright ad, which helped make race a non-issue.

-- The Economy, Stupid: From McCain's 12/07 admission that "economics is not something I've understood as well as I should," to his defense of strong "fundamentals" to P. Gramm's "whiners", it was clear that if the economy drove this election, McCain would be in trouble.

-- -Before There Were 18M Cracks: There was HRC's flub on drivers' licenses at Drexel. The first crack in what was supposed to be her "inevitability" shield.

-- Risky Business Paid Off: Obama's decision to shun public financing is one of the most obvious, but the most important. McCain could afford a 3-state strategy, but not a 19-state one.

-- And finally, the passing of Tim Russert. We miss him. Election Night won't be the same.