Do Voters Really Care Whether McCain Invented The BlackBerry?Do Voters Really Care Whether McCain Invented The BlackBerry?

I believe that U.S. Sen. John McCain supports business and innovation. However, a McCain staffer may have over-shot a little when he tried to highlight the impact McCain has had on technology and commerce. And, the misstep has caught the attention of the media.Douglas Holtz-Eakin apparently held up his BlackBerry and told reporters Tuesday that they were "looking at the miracle John McCain helped create." Holtz-Eakin was responding to reporters' questions about his boss' understanding of financial markets and the candidate's track record as chair of the Senate Commerce Committee.

On what's undoubtedly been a stressful day for lots of people who read the news, and especially for those who are expected to come up with solutions, the blogosphere and media are abuzz over whether one sentence was intended to imply that McCain understands technology and invents it.

The attention may or may not be a good thing for McCain, who basically acknowledged that he's not the most tech-savvy public officeholder.

If voters see the message as it probably was intended -- as an attempt to state that McCain supports and understands telecommunications, technology, and other businesses -- I suppose today's BlackBerry incident could help the Republican presidential candidate.

If, on the other hand, it's perceived as an attempt to take credit where it hasn't been earned -- a la Al Gore and the Internet -- it could hurt.

However, I doubt undecided voters and Republicans will hear about the BlackBerry incident and decide to put a Democrat in the White House. The staffer's declaration is also unlikely to persuade long-time Democrats to jump ship. Party loyalty is lasting, and if people decide this is the year to vote for their party's opposition, I'm sure they can find plenty of other reasons.

Most U.S. citizens, businesses, and representatives realize that we all have much bigger fish to fry right now.

Unfortunately, it seems that the new media, and old, are easily distracted. I'd like to put that famous James Carville sign on the walls of their offices. The Ragin' Cajun's talking point reminder -- hung in the Clinton campaign headquarters 16 years ago -- applies today more than ever.

It's the economy, stupid.