One thing is clear, if John McCain is really going to make the move to be the comeback kid, he's going to have to fight hard, play smart, and hit a few homeruns before the season is up. And perhaps just as important to actually making those great plays is to ensure that as many people see it as possible.

That's just what his modern media team headed up by Patrick Hynes did last night when McCain absolutely nailed a line which included three great buzz words: Woodstock + Hillary Clinton, + Earmarks. And in a subtle but appropriate way that only John McCain could do, he reminded the audience of his experience as a POW in Vietnam. He received a standing ovation from the entire crowd and clearly scored the "line of the night."

Personally, I missed it due to being at a dinner with friends. But fortunately the buzz was already starting among the blackberry crowd and then I found this pretty YouTube link sent around to bloggers from Patrick just staring at me, taunting me for a click:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TNEHMjZ6Pqs

But that's not all Team McCain did. In fact, they clearly realized that McCain had hit a homerun that they needed to capitalize on so their email team whipped up this message late last night:

Dear David,

As two recent polls have shown over the past week, John McCain is the only conservative Republican in this race who can beat Hillary Clinton. During tonight's Fox News debate in Orlando, John McCain told the American people why. He won tonight's debate, he'll win the nomination, he'll beat Hillary Clinton and be the next President of the United States. Even his opponents couldn't help giving him a standing ovation tonight.

Please click here to see why John McCain will beat Hillary Clinton and then help us by making an immediate contribution to the campaign. John McCain is picking up momentum, but we need your continued help tonight to keep it moving.

Thank you for your continued support of John McCain.

Sincerely,

Rick Davis
Campaign Manager

PS - Please help John McCain win the nomination and defeat Hillary Clinton by making an immediate contribution tonight.

If John McCain is going to make a comeback, and some recent polling shows there might be an opening, he's going to have to continue to make smart plays like this when it counts.

[Cross-posted with a smile at TechRepublican]