Rope-a-Dope?

A reader sees a pattern:

I have this feeling Obama is holding back for the debates. Rope a dope.

This convention was about healing the party, activating the team - don't forget his secret weapon, his ground game - and making himself and his family part of our general cultural consciousness, part of our American family. People fear what they do not know (ever noticed that?). We have to get familiar with Barack - Barack has to become Barack - and then we'll accept his attacks on McCain. They will be equals. I think Barack knows that, and he's playing his game.   

Let McCain and his Rove-dogs bark all they want now. Let them punch themselves silly, until they can't manage one more swing... in the meantime, we fall in love with Barack. Do you remember Ali coming off the ropes in Zaire? Did you see him in the crowd last night?