Although you would not know it if your only source of information about Senator John McCain’s tax plan was… Senator John McCain, his tax plan will be more beneficial for the middle class than Senator Barack Obama’s plan.

“Broadly speaking, Mr McCain proposes to leave the Bush tax cuts in place. Mr Obama proposes a big increase in taxes on people earning more than $250,000 (€187,000, £145,000) a year, in order to cut taxes and increase subsidies at the bottom; for the middle, he too would mostly keep the Bush tax code. Middle-income households do come out slightly ahead under the Obama plan – but only if you leave out the effect of Mr McCain’s healthcare proposal,” Clive Crook explained for the Financial Times.

In other words, McCain’s immediate tax plans and his health care proposal would benefit the typical American household more than Obama’s – a point Senator McCain has failed to articulate clearly to either the voting public or pundocracy.

This is a major issue for voters: if you want to win, you have to let the middle class know that you are on their side. The one who convinces the middle class that he’s best for them, wins elections. It’s that simple.

McCain should have explained this to voters; they should have known by now that his plan is better for them, while relying more on the free market and less government nonetheless. He should have made this his number one campaign issue ever since he first announced his plan; even if he would not proceed to win, voters would at least have known that they would have been better off under his plan.

His failure to do so once again confirms earlier criticism that McCain may be a great senator, but a horrible campaigner.