Political pundits, like nature, abhor a vacuum. How else explain the moaning and gnashing of teeth by writers on the left while the GOP-prone seem strangely confident in this August season of quietude, when the nation is preoccupied with the Olympics and enjoying the dregs of the summer?

I read several appalling pieces this week forecasting doom: John Heilemann’s think piece in New York magazine’s race issue, which basically says the only reason Obama is not surging in the polls is that we are, at heart, a nation of racists; and Michael Moore’s “How the Democrats Can Blow It” in the current Rolling Stone. (To call something by Moore self-serving is redundant: witness Number Six of his list of mistakes Obama is most likely to make: “Denounce Me!”)

Meanwhile, Republicans are feeling the hope, if not the love, again. Buoyed by those strangely static poll numbers, which scarcely moved after our man went to the Middle East and Europe, and may have actually moved in McCain’s direction as he began his own subliminally racist campaign against the Democrat and saw significant campaign contributions pour in. 

I would like to remind all watching that it’s early innings yet. The reason people don’t want to pay attention to the campaign now is that it seems endless (coming after the extended primary season, which seemed at times like one of those director’s-cut DVDs that feature all the scenes he should have kept out) and, for the most part, unenlightening. Tonight the first public meeting between the two candidates will be held significantly at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church and could feature some interesting questions from the purpose-driven-life guru, who told the Christian Broadcast Network he will be asking each man personal questions about his character and values.  

Okay, maybe you don’t think that sounds like must-see TV. It’s not a debate per se — Warren will quiz the candidates separately and expect them to make nice: Evangelicals are up for grabs in this election in a way they haven’t been for years, with the church-going (no matter what you thought of his old church) Obama looking a little better than the skirt-chasing, wife-dumping, war-loving admiral’s son. At least to some of us. But you would probably rather watch Michael Phelps win another gold medal, or other members of the American team whine about one more loss. That’s okay. As I said, it’s early innings. Things should start to get interesting right about now.