Is Pat Buchanan, former presidential speechwriter, reduced to parroting Steve Schmidt's blast faxes in for his columns? Here's Buchanan:

Each time the voters take a second look at Barack, their positive first impressions seem to dissipate. Barack is a weak closer.

And here's Steve Schmidt:

"Senator Obama is known as a weak closer, and Senator McCain is a strong finisher!"

The whole Buchanan column is one wingnut meme spew after another, but the main framing? Pure Schmidt.