During the campaign and debates of 1980, Ronald Reagan injected humor whenever Jimmy Carter said inaccurate things. Reagan would say, "There you go again," or "There he goes again," and it was quite comical. He used this same break-the-ice humor with Walter Mondale in 1984.

In the 1984 debates with Mondale, Reagan countered the notion that he was too old to serve another term. In a debate with Mondale, he claimed that he wouldn't emphasize the age issue. He said, "I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience." That got laughter from the audience.

Remember the jousting between the two VP nominees, Lloyd Bentsen and Dan Quayle, during the 1988 campaign? Quayle had made an age/experience related comparison between JFK and himself. Bentsen responded, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. Senator, I knew Jack Kennedy. Senator, Jack Kennedy was my friend. Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy." It was a funny moment, except for a surprised Quayle.

Al Gore had an irritating, restless habit during the 2000 debates. He would get out of his chair as he lectured, and hover over George Bush. It was funny when Bush would make a quick movement with his head in Gore's direction to let Gore know that he had invaded his space. Gore didn't fully get the body language message, because he continued to pontificate and made sighing sounds during the debates.

During campaign 2008, it might help if Sen. McCain applies some humor when he discusses Sen. Obama, or responds to Obama's shifting positions and disinformation campaign. He could note that Obama waffles every time he turns around, or changes faster than the wind, or shifts more often than folks change clothes, etc. After all, Obama is trying to be a comedian out on the stump with his own corny jokes.

Certainly, there are serious issues to discuss on the campaign trail, but there can be lighter moments along the way to ease the tensions. Obama has made change the main mantra of his campaign. He has changed his views on just about every issue under the sun, and he's broken several promises already. Now he doesn't want to debate McCain, yet he once boasted about his enthusiasm for a variety of debates. McCain could crack some jokes about that.

With all of his dizzying shifting, does Obama know what he believes in, or does he believe in any principles at all? Perhaps he is so desperate to win that he'll flail away at any topic in order to gain affection and victory. It's possible that his shock value behaviors are meant to keep everyone guessing about his real intentions.

On the other hand, McCain has a set of core beliefs and usually doesn't alter his positions unless evolving conditions and facts warrant some change. Change for the sake of change can be very counterproductive, and by trying to please everyone, Obama could end up pleasing no one. How could anyone ever trust this Machiavellian chameleon? Maybe even Obama has a tough time keeping up with the pace of his own frenetic waffling. Anyway, McCain ought to expose Obama's wishy-washy nature with humor.

McCain should just be himself, and stick to a few core issues, because this election is going to come down to kitchen table issues and national security. McCain needs to show that he understands hardworking Americans and their concerns. He should focus on the major values that resonate with them.

Instead of responding so seriously to Obama's distortions and constant flip-flops, McCain ought to throw more humor into the mix. At the same time, he can illustrate the vast distinctions between his values and those of Obama. He could point out the great divide between the economic advisers of each team. Most of Obama's advisers are economic theorists from the academic world, but do they know how the real world operates?

By contrast, most of McCain's advisers have vast experience in business. Some have started successful companies, or worked to the top of their industries. They understand all components of running a business, as well as economic cycles in the free enterprise system. McCain can remind voters that talking up a storm about the economy doesn't generate economic growth. Entrepreneurial Americans are the engine that creates a dynamic, vibrant economy.

Over the next several weeks, it could help McCain if he focuses like a laser beam on message discipline, and the core values that drive his vision for America. The less promises he makes, the better, because voters distrust candidates who make promises they can't deliver. In fact, most Americans can better solve their own problems without government meddling.

Voters primarily want reassurance that a presidential nominee would exercise sound judgment to make America safer, and would uphold the rule of law to protect natural human liberties. If McCain gets this message across by just being himself, and injects some humor into his straight talk, he can build momentum toward the GOP convention and beyond.